How to get rid of weeds

[marklin]

Just wondering what the most efficient and cost-effective way is to get rid of weeds in your yard. Do you pull them out one by one by hand? or do you use herbicides like Killex?

My yard is covered with almost 1/3 of weeds, it would take month for me to rid them by hand.. I've tried Killex, but doesn't seem to affect the weeds at all!! I am starting to feel the "shame of the block" in my neighborhood...

 

[Timothy's]

How long have you used killex? I used them; I found they worked well in May but not too good these days. The main ingredient in Killex is 2,4-D. It kills broad leaf weeds. It is most effective when the weeds are active growing. My guess in May the weeds are more active than now.
It works as this. You pick a dry day to spray the weed, try to get all the weed leaf coverd, after 3 days weed start to show weakness, a week it may turn yellow, eventually the grass will take over the place.
If there is too much weeds, it may better to relay the sod. The good time will be September. If the lawn is not too big, it may be cheaper and easier than reseed.

 

[marklin]

I sprayed it a week ago, so far I don't see any sign of weeds dying, like you said, early spring is probably the best time. I just dug out over 100 of them yesterday at the front yard, the backyard is covered by weeds even more!

Do you not have to get Killex go down to the root? will it be effective enough just to get the leaves wet? I did water it after 2 days in hope that the solution will go down to the earth for better effect.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Timothy's]

Another possibility is that the weed is crabgrass. Killex does not work on crabgrass, only round up do. But roundup will kill all the grass. There is something for crabgrass but you have to use it in early spring before it germinates.
Killex is absorbed by leaf. You don’t need to wash it down to roots. You may reduce its effectiveness by doing that.