When it comes to maintaining that thick, beautiful lawn that you’re proud of, weeds are a major nuisance. But what if the weeds aren’t even originating in your lawn? What if you suspect those weeds are finding their way into your lawn from a neighbor’s property?
If your neighbor’s yard is full of weeds, you might be wondering what you can do to prevent them from creeping into your own lawn.
This is a challenging concern and doesn’t have a simple solution. But we know it’s an issue a lot of Centreville, Chantilly, and Manassas, VA homeowners are worried about. Like them, you might want to know how to stop your neighbor’s weeds from coming into your lawn.
We’ve rounded up some of our best advice so that you can ditch the worries and get back to enjoying your lawn.
Before You Start a Neighborhood War, Consider These Points
Having a conversation with the neighbor about the weeds in their lawn is no simple thing. The last thing that you want to do is start a neighborhood war! But we understand it’s frustrating when your neighbor’s yard is full of weeds and you’re working so hard to keep your lawn pristine.
Still, this can be tricky territory and we would never advise being confrontational with a neighbor over their lawn. You may be eager to have someone to blame for weeds in your lawn, but it’s worth considering these points.
First and foremost, it bears mentioning that many weed types spread by seeds. These types of weeds probably aren’t even coming from your next-door neighbor as they can blow as far as multiple blocks away.
Weed seeds are also commonly tracked into a lawn on someone’s shoes or even dropped by birds or other animals!
However, the types of weeds that spread creeping roots can certainly grow underground and spread from a neighbor’s yard into yours. Keep in mind that these weed types can be really tough to control. At Turf's Up, we’ve spent years perfecting our program and making it the best it can be. But certain tough-to-kill weeds still may need repeated spraying.
Before we delved into more specifics on how to stop your neighbor’s weeds from coming into your lawn, we felt it was worth discussing these points and perhaps providing some new perspective. Even if your neighbor’s lawn is struggling with weeds, they may not be entirely to blame for your weed woes.
Now, let’s talk about preventing weeds in the first place.
Promoting a Healthy Lawn is the Key to Stop Your Neighbor’s Weeds from Coming into Your Lawn
If your neighbor’s yard is full of weeds, you might be really focused on what their lawn looks like. We completely understand. It’s an eyesore and a source of frustration—and it might have you constantly worrying that those weeds are going to creep over and start growing in your yard!
While it’s hard not to be focused on the neighbor, the first step to keep your neighbor’s weeds out of your lawn is to shift your focus to your own lawn. After all, that’s really the only place that you have total control.
The key is to get your own lawn in top shape so that it begins to naturally resist weeds in the first place. A lot of people don’t realize that weed control actually starts beneath the surface level and down in the soil. If you want a lawn that is going to be naturally resistant to weeds, then you need to have healthy and thriving soil.
That’s why we start all of our lawn care programs off with a soil test so that we can see exactly what’s going on with your soil. A soil test will include a comprehensive analysis of your lawn’s pH and its nutrient makeup. 
Let’s look at each and how they impact weed control.
- Incorrect soil pH can cause several problems that need to be addressed. As the pH falls or rises too far from where it’s supposed to be, it alters the soil chemistry and prevents the grass from taking up nutrients as it should. This can also create an environment that is favorable for weed growth. You want to generate an environment where grass loves to grow—not weeds.
- In addition, nutrient makeup will include looking at the amount of phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients in your lawn’s soil. These are important nutrients that are needed for your lawn to perform its best. When it has all of these in optimal balance, your lawn will grow thick and healthy which will begin to naturally choke out weeds. After all, the weeds that creep into your lawn are going to be competing with your healthy turf for the same oxygen and water. If you’re able to crowd out those weeds with healthy turf, they simply won’t have a chance to grow in the first place.
Don’t Give Weeds the Chance to Spread
What we’ve discussed so far boils down to the fact that your best defense against your neighbor’s weeds lies in promoting your own healthy and thriving lawn. You want to do what you can to continue to support a thick and healthy lawn where weeds won’t be able to perform or spread well.
Of course, that’s not to say that no weeds will ever creep over.
Weeds are incredibly persistent and resilient and they’re certainly going to keep trying to spread. But that’s also why you cannot become complacent even when you’ve achieved what you feel is the best-looking lawn on the block. Lawn care must be an ongoing practice.
It’s important that you choose a complete lawn care program that includes all of the important services your lawn needs. This includes a robust weed control program that is customized to your lawn’s specific needs. There are many different types of weeds out there, and what your lawn might be dealing with could be completely different from another. It’s important that your weed control technician is switching up products as needed and even applying specialty controls for certain tough-to-control weed varieties. This means that if weeds do creep in, they won’t be sticking around too long.
Keep in mind that not all weed control programs are created equally. There are some lawn care companies that will go out and take a blanket approach to all of the different weeds in the lawn. Perhaps that’s even what’s happening with your neighbor (and why their weeds are not under control). It’s important that you’re using a company that is using a targeted approach specifically designed for the weeds you’re dealing with.
Beyond a lawn care program with weed control, you also want to make sure that you’re having lawn aeration performed. Lawn aeration combined with seeding and topdressing are three of the best things that you can do to continue to grow a thick and thriving lawn. This will also contribute to your effort to ensure your lawn naturally chokes out weeds.
If Your Neighbor’s Yard is Full of Weeds, Refer them to Turf's Up
If your neighbor is really struggling with getting their weeds under control, then they might actually appreciate getting some help.
At Turf's Up, we work with many different neighborhoods in and around Centreville, Chantilly, and Manassas, VA, usually thanks to referrals. We even have a referral program. If you refer a neighbor or friend and they sign up, you will receive a $25 credit (and they will also save $25)!
Referrals are the primary way we’ve grown over the years. One neighbor is really happy with their results so they refer us to a bunch of others. Soon, the whole neighborhood looks great! If you think that your neighbor might be receptive to a recommendation, we’d love for you to refer them to us. We love a good challenge and have worked with many homeowners on completely transforming a lawn full of weeds into one that they’re proud of.
Of course, your neighbor might not be receptive to a recommendation and that’s OK, too. By choosing to work with us yourself, you can get your lawn into great shape so that it can begin to naturally resist weeds in the first place.
If you’re ready to get the lawn care results you deserve at your Centreville, Chantilly, or Manassas home, talk to an expert, and get ready to enjoy your lawn and relax.
