Tips for Managing Weeds

  • Focus on building healthy, thriving plants in your yard. They'll fill in the open spaces and crowd out the weeds.
  • Monitor your yard often, looking for weeds on a regular schedule. It's easier to remove the small sprouts than to battle big, unpleasant weeds that have already dropped their seeds.
  • Get suspicious plants identified. Contact your local Extension office for help.
  • Learn how the weeds spread. The hardest weeds to control are those that grow back each year and spread by the roots (perennials). They'll take extra effort.
  • Don't remove all the vegetation in your yard. It helps to compete with the weeds.
  • Adjust the amount of water to favor the plants you want in your landscape.
  • Don't plant weeds. Use certified weed-free seed, mulch, and soil materials. Know your supplier and the source of the materials, and avoid those that come from weedy areas.
  • Use drip systems. They put the water where it's needed, reducing habitat for weeds.
  • Use mulches to make it more difficult for weeds to grow.
  • Pull, dig or hoe weeds early, before they can make seed.
 
Photo of a hand holding a weed that has just been pulled from the ground

Pull weeds when they are young and the roots are relatively small.

Photo of an empty lot covered with weeds

Bare ground invites weeds. Keep the surface
covered with mulch and avoid blading native
vegetation, which helps compete with weeds.

Hefner, M. 2019, Tips for Managing Weeds, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno. IP

If you need more information.

Please contact Extension's Communication Team for assistance.

 

Also of Interest:

 
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Las hormigas carpinteras son unas de las hormigas más grandes que existen en los Estados Unidos. Una colonia de hormigas carpinteras se compone por una reina y varios miles de hormigas obreras.
 Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-24-10
Guía para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada Identificación y Manejo de la Hormiga Cosechadora
Hay 22 especies diferentes de hormigas cosechadoras en los Estados Unidos. El color de las hormigas cosechadoras varía desde el color negro hasta el café y el rojo, miden un tamaño promedio de 1/5 a 1/2 pulgada de largo. Viendo de cerca el cuerpo de una hormiga cosechadora se pue...
 Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H. with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Guía para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada Identificación y Manejo de la Polilla Esfinge de Rayas Blancas
Las polillas Esfinge de Rayas Blancas se alimentan del néctar de las plantas y no causan ningún daño. Además, es importante señalar que las polillas adultas son buenas polinizadoras de muchas de nuestras plantas.
 Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H. with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Guia para los Propietarios de Viviendas en el Norte de Nevada ldentificacion y Manejo de las Polillas del Tabaco y del Tomate
Se pueden encontrar polillas del tabaco y polillas del tomate en áreas que abarcan desde el sur de Canadá hasta el Caribe. Estas especies se asemejan bastante y se comportan similarmente.
 Andrews, M.; Hanson-Mazet, W.; Kratsch, H. with translation by Peterson, M. 2025, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
catepillar
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Cabbage Caterpillars
This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing common caterpillar pests on various crops in the cabbage family.
 K. Burls, W. Hanson Mazet, H. Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-109
 

Associated Programs

Garden plant and pest sprayers image by Olga Seifutdinova from Getty Images

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy that reduces pests to tolerable levels with lower costs for the pest manager or home gardener and minimal effect on the environment. The IPM program at University of Nevada, Reno Extension focuses on identification and public education with resources for the community including classes, Spanish language resources and a pest directory.