Lawn weed eradication

Meomye

My lawn is slowly recovering from the intense heat and is beginning to green up but I have an awful lot of weeds, my question is, is it ok to uses a lawn weedkiller at the moment, given that my lawn is like a biscuit?

Dovefromabove

Our front lawn is looking pretty grim too, with a lot of yarrow in one area ... my plan is to wait until the grass greens up properly and starts to grow a bit, then I'll use the electric lawn rake to get out the dead stuff and hopefully a lot of the yarrow too and then I'll scatter some lawn seed by hand over the whole lawn (probably second week in Sept) and hope for the best.  

I think that given a chance, and providing we don't cut it too short, the grass should outgrow most of the yarrow.   Any other weeds that we want to get rid of (such as the Mouse Ear Hawkweed) so the neighbour doesn't get anxious about it seeding I'll take out with a daisy grubber.  

glasgowdan

Are you able to spot treat? I'd want a lawn to be green and growing before I applied any of my pro weed killers. 

Obelixx

Not a good idea to do a weed treatment or even a feed on a stressed lawn.  Wait for the rain, let it green up and then, if you must, use an autumn weed and feed in mid to late September and be sure to follow the instructions carefully.  Under dosing will be ineffective and overdosing will damage the grass.

When the grass is growing again, cut it but not shorter than one inch and see how it goes.  Once recovery is strong, rake out the dead thatch and then see if it needs re-seeding.   Grass is remarkably resilient so be patient.

Meomye

Thankyou for replies, I will be patient and wait for a healthier looking lawn, meanwhile I will try and get a few out by hand but I may be gone some time......   

Dovefromabove

If you get good at it you could come and do some here too @Meomye. 😉

Fairygirl

I treated the awkward ones individually [dandelion] and just pulled the ones I could. We've had quite a bit of rain here now, so grass is growing well. I never bother with the autumn treatments usually - but there's till plenty of time if you want to do that once your grass is growing away well. 
As already said, regular light mowing once there's good growth and dampness will soon restore it 

madpenguin

Last year I started my Meadow Lawn project and have been trying to introduce many 'weeds' to my bit of grass (plugs and seeds) after years of trying to get rid of them!
I have found it surprisingly difficult.The dry weather has not helped.Many of the lawns round here have all the 'weeds' I long for. (next doors lawn has Storkbill!)
Strange how us gardeners cannot get rid of something but once you want it you can't get the darn things to grow!!!

Fairygirl

Madpenguin - Sod's Law eh?

Dovefromabove

It's like yarrow growing  healthily all over my front lawn, but achillea in the border next to it just sulks. 

Jules41

I feel your pain @madpenguin!!!!  I have tried, and failed miserably, to get a wildflower meadow area going. All I have at the moment is long grass ... and even more long grass. So why is it that the poppies, clover, Fox and cubs ( I know they can be a nuisance but I love them) etc etc etc .... are growing at a ridiculous rate everywhere else in the garden!  😕