Two common weeds that begin in winter (and how to help prevent them)

For those who like to actively take care of their lawn, winter can seem like the season to kick back and relax a little. Grass generally needs to be mown less, and many have already applied a fertiliser in the autumn. But don’t hang up the gardening gloves just yet! Many weeds start developing in winter and nipping them in the bud (pun very much intended) can help save you the hassle of dealing with them when they become fully grown in the spring and summer months.

In this post we’ve highlighted two common plants (bindii and clovers) that have a habit of moving in to Australian lawns during the winter season, and some methods to prevent them from getting out of hand and overtaking a lawn when the weather warms up. 

Clovers

Clovers are a perennial weed, with the flowers often appearing each year in spring. People’ opinions on clover are a little divided. Some like the look of it and enjoy the benefits it can bring to a garden, such as more bees and its thick cover preventing other weeds from growing. Others find it to be a pest, don’t like the idea of bees hovering around their lawn where pets or young children may like to play, and would rather not have it as part of their garden. The good news is there are a few methods that can be adopted in the winter that will make it harder for clover to take over in the spring. By fertilising your lawn using a fertiliser specifically made for the winter months, you can help give it a boost to fight back the clover hoards. Mowing your lawn high can also help as grass tends to be more stressed when cut shorter, and this gives clover a chance to move in. 

Bindiis

A common weed found on the soles of shoes (and unfortunate feet) across the nation in the summertime, the bindii plant begins to grow in the winter. This plant starts out with soft, green foliage and it’s best to deal with them in the cooler months before they produce prickles which can then be easily spread around the garden. If you only notice a few bindii plants growing, then it may be worth rolling up the sleeves and physically digging them out. If there are many plants, then spraying them may be the easiest option. There’s a large range of herbicides on the market designed to help with the eradication of the bindii weed, and if you’re looking for a more natural method, there are many who swear by using a combination of vinegar and salt on the weeds to kill them.

Seeing weeds popping up in your lawn during the spring can be frustrating, but there are ways to fight back during the winter and hopefully stop the infestation before it takes over. Preventative action such as fertilisation and a longer mowing height can often help to keep plants like clover at bay, while removing or spraying freshly-sprouted bindii in the colder months can help to save bare feet from pain in the spring and summer! 

Of course, don’t forget to contact your local Jim’s Mowing and Gardening guru! Give us a call now on 1300 975 430 or book online.