Maintenance

Click on the links below to read up on how to best protect your lawn from common residential pests...

Weeds - Pennyroyal

Comments: Pennyroyal is mainly a weed of moist pastures and turf. Although it can tolerate some summer dryness, it generally only dominates pastures and lawns in areas with reliable rainfall for much of the year or where the soil is poorly drained. The other noticeable thing about pennyroyal is the strong smell of mint given off from the foliage when it is crushed or cut. Distinguishing Features: Pennyroyal is a perennial weed which has creeping stems with roots along them to hold it tightly to the ground, apart form the ends of flowering stems which are more upright. It forms dense mats of vegetation within pastures and lawns. The strong mint smell given off when the foliage is crushed is the best identifying feature of this weed. When it is flowering, the flowers are also quite distinctive, with purplish-blue flowers clustered around the base of leaves. Control:In a turf situation, it is best to use is Banvine, (2.4-D), or Tordon Gold, (Picloran/triclopyr). For the best control of the weed herbicides should be applied during spring or autumn when the weed is actively growing, not in summer when it is very visible due to the flowering but not necessarily growing very actively.