How to Fix a Weed Overgrown Lawn

A high population of weeds is a good indication that your grass is unhealthy. Oftentimes, thick thatch or a thatch layer that is over 1/2 inch encourages weed growth, because it prevents fertilizer for absorbing into the soil to the roots. To fix a lawn overrun with weeds, gardeners must fix the underlining health issues or the weeds will pop back. Also, applying both pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides correctly can reduce the weeds in the yard and prevent many of them from coming back.

Masonry trowel
Dethatcher
Rake
Post-emergent herbicide
Broad spectrum herbicide
Shovel
Pre-emergent herbicide
Grass seed

Instructions

- 1
  Cut out a 2-inch-deep, triangular-shaped piece of turf with a masonry trowel to check the thatch layer. Thatch is the brown spongy material that sits between the soil and the grass blades.
- 2
  Rent a dethatcher from you local hardware store. Set the dethatcher's blades on a medium level and push back and forth across the lawn. Rake up the thatch and debris.
- 3
  Spray broadleaf weeds with a selective herbicide that will not effect your grass type. Cover surrounding ornamental plants with a piece of plastic to protect them from the spay.
- 4
  Dip a small paint brush in a broad spectrum herbicide that contains glyphosate. Apply the to foliage of broadleaf weeds growing right next to ornamental plants and seedlings. Broad-spectrum herbicide will kill any vegetation it comes into contact with, so be careful of your grass.
- 5
  Dig up grassy weeds. Reseed your preferred grass type in bare areas.
- 6
  Apply a pre-emergent herbicide for grassy and broadleaf weeds in the spring and fall. Pre-emergent herbicide prevents weed seeds from germinating in the yard. Water the lawn to allow for the pre-emergetn herbicide to soak into the soil.

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