Nothing ruins a beautiful, well-manicured summer lawn like weeds. From those ugly ones that have thorn-like leaves to the tall, unsightly ones that demand to be seen, weeds are an equal opportunity annoyance. As an HOA board, it’s important to remember that one weed here or there isn’t going to hurt curb appeal, but if you have residents who allow weeds to grow freely, you’ll want to address it.

Since everyone deals with weeds, we encourage you to share with your community these helpful ideas on winning the war against weeds:

  • Prevention! This is especially important for your lawn. Put down a pre-emergent herbicide that is safe for grass to prevent weeds for germinating in the first place. If you prevent them from starting, you’ll save yourself so much hassle down the road!
  • Grass health. Believe it or not, the healthier you keep your lawn, the fewer weeds you’ll see. Keep it fertilized and well watered and weeds won’t have the chance to grow as easily.
  • Mow! Again, keeping your lawn healthy and MOWED means less chance for weeds. Some types of grass are healthier at different heights, but no matter what grass you have you’ll see fewer weeds if you mow at least once a week. This goes back to keeping the grass healthy, because healthy grass crowds out weeds!
  • Treat. No matter how hard you try, weeds will always find a way. If it’s in the grass, your flowerbeds, or even in the cracks of your driveway, you’ll want to poison it before pulling it. If you pull a healthy weed you’ll likely leave some roots and it increases the chances of it growing right back. Poison it one day, pull it the next. That way the root system is compromised and it won’t grow back. Also, make sure what you use won’t kill the grass (avoid roundup close to plants or grass.

Related: Your HOA and Home Repair Scams

No yard is immune to weeds, so seeing one or two during the summer is just how it is. But, if you see someone neglecting their yard and allowing weeds to flourish, make sure you send them a notice. Nothing ruins curb appeal faster than a weed-tangled yard with dying grass! By doing this, you’re setting your community up for less weeding and improved curb appeal! It’s a total win-win. If you need help with your HOA landscaping, contact us at Spectrum. We’re happy to help you find the right vendor service for you!