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 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. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-31
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. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-33
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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
A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Earwigs
This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing earwigs in Nevada.
 K. Burls, W.Hanson Mazet, H. Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-108
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A Northern Nevada Homeowner's Guide to Identifying and Managing Shield Bugs
This fact sheet describes the identifying features, life cycle, plant damage, and control methods for managing Shield Bugs in Nevada.
 K. Burls, W. Hanson Mazet, H. Kratsch 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-110
 

Associated Programs

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

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management program is a long-term management strategy that uses a combination of tactics to reduce pests to tolerable levels with potentially lower costs for the pest manager and minimal effect on the environment.