Weed Control for High-Altitude Lawns: What Actually Works

If you own property in the Roaring Fork Valley, you know weeds are relentless. The combination of intense UV, dry soils, and short growing seasons creates perfect conditions for some of Colorado's most stubborn weed species. Here's what actually works to keep them out of your lawn.

The Weeds You're Fighting at Altitude

Mountain lawns in the Aspen-to-Glenwood corridor deal with a specific set of troublemakers:

• Dandelions: The most visible — they thrive at every elevation in the valley and spread aggressively
• Clover: Creeping in from lawn edges and bare patches, especially in under-fertilized lawns
• Thistle: Aggressive and deep-rooted, common in disturbed soils after construction
• Bindweed: Nearly impossible to remove once established — prevention is critical
• Crabgrass: More common at lower elevations (Glenwood Springs, Carbondale) where summers get hotter
• Spurge: Low-growing, fast-spreading summer annual that fills bare spots quickly

Prevention Beats Treatment Every Time

The most effective weed control strategy isn't spraying weeds after they appear — it's preventing them from growing in the first place.

Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Applied in spring before soil temperatures hit 55°F, pre-emergent treatments create a chemical barrier that stops weed seeds from germinating. This single application can eliminate 70-80% of your seasonal weed problems.

The catch: Timing has to be precise. Too early and the product breaks down before weeds try to germinate. Too late and the seeds are already sprouting. In the Roaring Fork Valley, the window varies by 2-4 weeks depending on elevation.

A Thick, Healthy Lawn

The best weed suppressor is thick grass. Weeds are opportunists — they fill in wherever grass is thin, bare, or stressed. A properly fertilized, well-watered lawn that's mowed at the right height (3-3.5 inches) naturally crowds out most weeds.

This is why weed control and fertilizer programs work together as a system, not separately.

When Weeds Break Through: Post-Emergent Treatment

Even with prevention, some weeds will appear. Targeted post-emergent herbicides handle these breakthroughs:

• Broadleaf herbicides target dandelions, clover, and thistle without harming grass
• Spot treatment is more effective (and uses less chemical) than blanket spraying
• Timing matters: Apply when weeds are actively growing, not during drought stress or extreme heat
• Repeat applications may be needed for deep-rooted weeds like thistle and bindweed

What Doesn't Work

A few approaches that waste time and money:

• Pulling weeds by hand — satisfying but ineffective for anything with a deep taproot. You'll leave root fragments that regrow
• One-and-done applications — weeds germinate in waves throughout the season. A single treatment in spring won't protect you in August
• Vinegar/salt home remedies — they kill everything they touch, including your grass, and don't prevent regrowth
• Ignoring thin patches — bare soil is an open invitation for weeds to establish

The Professional Approach

Taylor Made Lawns takes a season-long approach to weed control in the Roaring Fork Valley:

1. Spring pre-emergent timed precisely for your property's elevation
2. Fertilizer program to promote thick, competitive grass growth
3. Scheduled weed control applications through the growing season
4. Spot treatments for any breakthrough weeds during weekly service visits
5. Weekly mowing at the right height to maximize weed suppression

It's a system — and it works far better than any single treatment.