Knapweed control in Douglas County, Colorado. (720)248-0000.
Knapweeds are a growing concern for wildlife. They cause the devastation of desirable plants, which takes away safe areas for small animals. The weeds also make it difficult for grazing animals to
find food. It’s important to get knapweeds under control, but how do we do that?
Removing knapweeds isn’t something you can do once and then forget all about it. It’s all about persistence. After all, the weeds are certainly persistent!
Large Infestations Happen Over Time
If you see a large infestation of knapweeds, know that this hasn’t happened overnight. It’s taken time for the weeds to find nutrients and grow to a point where they have taken over the area. It’s naïve to think that one round of removal is going to solve the problem.
Think of it as like weight loss. If it took you a year to gain the weight, it’s going to take you a year to healthily lose the weight. So, when we look at the growth of knapweeds, if it took a year for the knapweeds to grow, it’s going to take at least a year to get rid of them.
However, there are always seeds that can remain in the ground. If you didn’t get rid of every single element of the weeds, they will grow back, which is why persistence is key to controlling them.
Manual Methods Are Highly Effective
If the infestation isn’t too big, you can opt for manual techniques to get rid of the problem. This will include pulling the weeds out including the roots. You’ll want to place a bag over the top of the bulbs to make sure that no seeds get onto the ground.
Mowing is also a good option, but you’re not going to get rid of the roots. This means the weeds are going to grow back, so you’ll need to mow each month until winter sets in. Once winter is here, the knapweeds will go dormant. This is only effective on smaller areas.
Chemical Controls for Knapweeds
When you have larger areas or you don’t want the consistent work of mowing, you’ll need to look into chemical control methods. You can use herbicides to get rid of the weeds, but you’ll need to get the timing just right. Spray the area where the knapweeds grow in the spring or early summer, so you catch everything before the flower buds appear. This helps to reduce the chances of seeds being produced.
You can also spray again in the fall. This targets the plants before the winter frost, helping to reduce the growth the next spring.
The best thing you can do is be consistent and persistent. You’ll find it’s much easier to keep knapweeds under control to be able to enjoy your garden and give wildlife a safe space to live.
If you need help with knapweed control on your property in Douglas county, request free estimate now at (720)248-0000.
