How to Get Rid of Weeds & Reseed a Lawn

Removing existing weeds and enriching the quality of soil are prerequisites for healthy lawn grass. Although the process is labor and time intensive, by removing all existing weeds you give the grass seed a better chance to grow lush, green and healthy. Weeds are noxious, invasive and undesirable plants that compete with grass and other vegetation for soil moisture and nutrients, leaving them straggly and weak. Kill the weeds with a weed killer or herbicide before reseeding the lawn.

Tape measure
Protective clothing
Face mask
Glyphosate herbicide
Tank sprayer
Rake
Tarp
Rototiller or shovel
Soil testing kit
Lime or sulfur
Organic compost
Phosphorus-high fertilizer
Bucket
Grass seeds
Garden hose
Organic mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Multiply the length and width of the lawn infested with weeds to determine the area in square feet. Take the measurements from the longest and widest points in the area. Ideally, you need 1 gallon of commercial weed killer for every 250- to 300-square-foot area.
- 2
  Wear a long-sleeved shirt, full pants, long boots, gardening gloves and a face mask prior to handling the weed killer to prevent direct exposure. Read the label directions to determine whether to mix water with the concentrated glyphosate herbicide or pour it directly into the tank sprayer. Depending on the formulation, some herbicides are available in concentrated form, while others are sold as diluted herbicides.
- 3
  Direct the nozzle of the tank sprayer over the weeds in your lawn and begin spraying the herbicide over them. Bend slightly to maintain good contact with each weed plant and ensure complete coverage. Start from one corner of your lawn and work your way to the other corner.
- 4
  Inspect the weeds after four days for signs of browning. Rake dead weeds, or repeat application over stubborn weed plants. Most herbicides completely kill weeds in two to four weeks. Collect dead weeds in a tarp and dispose.
- 5
  Till the soil with a shovel or rototiller to a depth of 8 inches. Test the soil with a home soil testing kit to determine the pH value. Most grasses thrive in a pH between 5.8 and 7.0. Add sulfur to decrease existing pH, or lime to increase the value.
- 6
  Add equal amounts of organic compost to phosphorus-rich fertilizer in a bucket and mix well. Spread 3 inches of the mixture over the soil and mix well with a shovel to work it in.
- 7
  Spread your desired grass seeds by hand for a small area or use a mechanical seeder if covering a large area. You need 2-1/2 to 3 lbs. of seed for every 500 square-foot space. Work towards an even distribution to prevent overcrowding the seed.
- 8
  Rake the seeds so they go 1/4-inch deep in the soil. Water the newly planted seeds lightly with a garden hose, and spread a 2-inch-thick layer of organic mulch over them until they germinate.

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