Grass vs. Mallow

[Jerry P.]

Our backyard was previously infested with mallow.* That combined with crabgrass (bermudagrass?) forced us to kill the whole yard.* Now we're trying to grow grass again, but all the mallow seeds are growing along side.* Their numbers are too great all be pulled by hand, and the grass is too young to be sprayed with a weed killer.* What to do?

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[Newt]

Hi Jerry,

I'm not one to use toxic chemicals in my garden, so I always look for organic and environmentally friendly ways to deal with these sort of problems.* With mallow and turf, it's best to have a dense stand of lawn.* Obviously your lawn is newly seeded, but this site has some good recommendations.* I DO NOT recommend the herbicides listed there.* I'm including fact sheets on these.
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopEx...eed/mallow.htm

Clopyralid
http://www.pesticide.org/clopyralid.pdf
http://www.pesticide.org/ClopyralidLawns.pdf

Triclopyr
http://www.pesticide.org/triclopyr.pdf

Newt

[Jerry P.]

Thanks for the reply.* I've already searched the internet for information, and was hoping for some new insight.* The website pretty much says do nothing and let the grass crowd out the weeds.* I don't think that will work. Here's what happened before.** I think it's malva parviflora.* I tried pulling them by hand, but there were so many tiny plants, it was a losing battle.* Now it's happening again.

[Newt]

My next best idea would be to use a radiant heat weeder.* You may kill off some of the turf, but it should also get rid of the mallow and the roots of the mallow.
http://www.pesticide.org/radiant.html

Newt