Broadleaf Weed Control in Your Lawn & Garden

Broadleaf weed is a general term used to describe non-grass weeds that have no woody growth. They usually have wide leaves that often hug the ground, especially in a lawn situation.

Some of the most common broadleaf weeds found in Aussie lawns and home gardens are Bindii,  Dandelion, Cudweed, Cat's Ear, Clovers, Oxalis', Lamb's Tongue (Plantains), Chickweed, Thistles, Fleabane, Capeweed, Creeping Buttercup, Wireweed and Dock.

Broadleaf weeds can be found growing in the lawn and garden at various times throughout the year, with some favouring summer and others in winter. Some are annuals (live and die within a year), and others are perennials (lives for longer than a year). Some perennials have a dormant period where they die off, but then come back again the next season.

Spray the entire lawn with Yates Buffalo PRO Selective Bindii & Broadleaf Weedkiller Concentrate, or for the added benefit of feeding while killing weeds apply Yates Buffalo PRO Weed 'n' Feed Hose-On. Spray weeds either before or during flowering so they don't go to seed and spread further throughout the lawn.

Both products control Bindii, Capeweed, Clover, Cudweed, Dandelion, Docks, Lamb's Tongue (Plantain), and Thistles. The concentrate also controls Cat's Ear, Creeping Oxalis, Creeping Buttercup, Fleabane. The hose-on also controls Wireweed.

Both products are suitable for use on established Buffalo (except for ST-26, please note ST does not stand for Shade Tolerant. ST-26 is a specific and uncommon Buffalo variety), Couch (except for QLD Blue), Kikuyu, Bent, Fescue, Paspalum and Ryegrass Lawns.

Please ensure you have read and understood all label instructions prior to every use. This will not only help you use the product safely, you'll also prevent lawn injury, and maximise the results.

For a glyphosate-free weedkiller that kills roots and all, spray weeds with Yates Zero Triple Strike Garden Weedkiller Concentrate. Reapply every 10-14 days if regrowth occurs. Just be careful not to spray nearby lawns or plants as it may injure or kill them. To avoid overspray, when spraying keep the nozzle as close to the weed as possible. Alternatively, you could apply the product using Yates Zero Weeding Brush. That way you can apply the product directly where it is needed.

New weed seeds can be accidentally brought in on your clothes, shoes, pet, vehicles and tools, and then dropped onto the lawn and garden. So when you are out and about, and you notice you have seeds on you (especially Bindii and Farmer's Friends/Pitchforks) pick, wash or brush them off before returning home.

Control all weeds growing on your property, and suggest (politely) that your neighbours too control weeds in their lawn and garden. This will help reduce the amount of weed seeds that may enter and spread on your property.

Spray and/or pull out weeds as soon as you notice them. When there are only a few weeds here and there, it's much easier to battle and get on top of a minor weed problem. If you let the weeds take over, you're in for a war!

Grow a healthy garden. This will help nearby plants to shade out weeds, and there'll be more competition for water and nutrients. Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser can be used on most plants, it's ideal for promoting growth, and improving the health of plants and soil.

After weeds have been controlled (if any), apply an 8 cm layer of organic mulch, such as pine bark or sugar cane.

Avoid using weedmat as this doesn't allow any organic matter (like broken down mulch) to go back into and improve the soil. Only use weedmat when necessary.

Grow a thick and healthy lawn with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food - it gently feeds and improves the structure and moisture retention of the soil.

Don't mow the lawn too short. In summer, keep the lawn a little longer, around 8 cm tall. This will reduce the amount of seeds that can germinate because there will be less light, water and nutrients for them.

Rather than endlessly spraying a lawn that is more than a quarter overrun with weeds, to save time and stress, it might be worth considering installing a new lawn.