Sunflowers

Many broadleaf weeds bear some bright and beautiful flowers that can mislead a homeowner into thinking that the plant is harmless. However, reality can’t be farther from the notion. Broadleaf weeds are often aggressive and take away the essential nutrients from the soil, rendering it less supportive for turfgrass.

Sunflower (Helianthus) is one such broadleaf weed that can completely take over your yard if neglected. It is common to most parts of the country, including the transition regions. The bright yellow flowers are beautiful to look at, but the weed can overwhelm any yard within months.

In this article, we will learn some details about the weed itself and then look at some of the methods to eliminate it from the lawns.

What is Sunflower (Helianthus)?

Sunflower plants can read a height of up to 6 feet and feature an attractive flower at the end of each stalk. Although the plan is consumable by livestock and can be desirable on ranches and farms, it has no place in your yard.

Sunflower is one of the most voracious consumers of nutrients from the soil and can steal valuable nutrients from the turfgrass. If correct measures are taken, you can fully eliminate this menacing weed from your yards and protect your turf from future infections.

How to manage Sunflower (Helianthus)?

Like most broadleaf weeds, sunflower also can be managed effectively without the need of a herbicide. The best way to tackle this weed is to eliminate it before it seeds and spreads across your lawn.

There is no alternative to good cultural practices for controlling weeds in your yard. Always follow the best lawn care practices to reduce the susceptibility of your turf to weeds. Here are some tips to get rid of sunflowers from your yard:

• One of the most effective methods to tackle a patch of sunflower plants on your laws is to snip the heads of the plants with pruning shears. This ensures that when they seed, the spread will be limited. This is especially important if you want to get rid of the weed in steps and can’t finish the job in one go.
• Cut the stem so that it is slightly above the ground. The chopped stems make an excellent addition to the compost if you have one.
• The root of the plant is in the shape of a ball and needs to be dug out completely. While digging to eliminate the root, make sure that there are no bits and pieces left behind. Digging a small trench around the root will make sure that you get it completely out without leaving any bits behind.
• If in case any seeds are left behind, make sure to pick them up and dispose of them.
• The chemical herbicide glyphosate can be applied to patches of sunflower if the patch is too difficult to manage using the manual method. However, be cautious while applying chemical herbicides and consult with weed experts before you decide to go the chemical way.

Something to take home

Weeds such as sunflowers can be problematic if left unattended. Make sure that broadleaf weeds are eliminated from your lawn as soon as you spot them. Weed control services can easily take care of sunflowers. We hope that you learned something new about this annoying weed and if you spot it in your yard, you will be able to get rid of it easily.