Here's What Really Happens If You Don't Pull Weeds This Fall

Did you know that in the fall, weed seeds have already started germinating in your garden and lawn? They're lurking there under the soil, getting ready to put down strong roots in the spring as an unwanted surprise. That is, unless you pull them or otherwise remove them. As weed seeds begin to sprout in the fall, it is an ideal time for weeding, making it a must-have on your ultimate fall to-do list for the garden of your dreams. Since weed seedlings are not well established in the fall, it's easier to get rid of them.

Germinating weed seeds are not the only reason to weed in the fall, however. If you've planted a fall vegetable garden, you've created ideal growing conditions for your vegetable plants — and weeds. Target flowering weeds for fall removal before they bloom so they can't produce seeds. Ideally, you will also pull, dig, or cut the roots out, as they could regenerate into new weeds.

It's a smart idea to learn more about the most prevalent weeds in your fall lawn and garden, which may well be among the most important weeds to pull in late summer and early fall. Weeds often mentioned as desirable to remove in the fall include broadleaf perennial weeds, such as dandelions, plantains, creeping Charlie, mock strawberry, buttercup, tansy ragwort, and woody weeds, including Scotch broom, holly, invasive hawthorn, and tree-of-heaven. Annual weeds, such as crabgrass, foxtail, knotweed, and purslane, shouldn't need to be removed since they last only one season.

For those using herbicides, early fall is still a good time for killing stubborn cool-season, broadleaf perennial weeds, including thistle, knapweed, garlic mustard, sulfur cinquefoil, and yellow archangel, because of plant mechanics in which these plants relocate carbohydrates to the roots of weeds, enabling herbicides to also target the roots, thus killing the whole weed plant. In contrast, the carbs remain in the leaves of weeds in the spring, so herbicide application is less effective. (You may want to consider the safest types of weed killer to use in your garden and which to avoid before turning to herbicides.)

It's daunting to realize there is weeding still to do at the end of the garden season. But tackling weeding in the fall will save you from garden beds and lawn teeming with weeds in the spring. Put weeding on your list of fall landscaping tasks to prepare for spring.