For homeowners in Vaughan, maintaining a lush, healthy lawn often feels like a constant battle against the local weed population. From the moment spring hits until the first frost, weeds are competing for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
As a 100% Canadian-owned and operated family business that has served communities like Vaughan since 1985, we know this challenge intimately. Weed control isn’t just about what you spray—it’s about building a lawn that is naturally resilient.
Let’s dive into the core strategies we’ve perfected over nearly four decades to give your turf the competitive edge.
Weed Control is a Symptom: We Treat the Root Cause Solutions
Any company can spray a weed. Our expertise is understanding why the weeds are there in the first place. When you see a weed, it’s a symptom of a weak, thin, or stressed lawn, often exacerbated by Vaughan’s tricky climate swings.
This is why, at Dr. Green, our approach is always holistic. Weed control products are the tool, but our core services—Fertilizer, aeration, and overseeding—are the solution that addresses the root cause. This long-term strategy is what delivers superior, year-over-year results.
The Non-Negotiable Trio for Weed Suppression
- Soil Health & Fertility: A thick lawn is a hungry lawn. Consistent, balanced fertilization, applied at the right time in the season, is the foundation. We ensure the soil is rich enough to support dense, deep-rooted turf that crowds out weeds.
- Aeration: Vaughan’s clay-heavy soils compact easily. Liquid aeration loosens the soil, allowing water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate the root zone. This is crucial because healthy roots are the best defence against weed invasion.
- Overseeding: This is your lawn’s “crowd control” strategy. By introducing new, vigorous grass varieties—like Kentucky Blue Grass, fescue or perennial ryegrass which are well-suited to Ontario’s climate—we fill in bare spots and increase turf density. This literally blocks the sunlight weeds need to germinate. A dense lawn has no vacancy for weeds.
Our Approved Weed Control Tool: Fiesta (Iron Chelate)
In Ontario, we rely on natural, Health Canada-approved products to tackle unwanted growth. The primary product for broadleaf weed control is a selective herbicide powered by Iron Chelate (FeHEDTA), often referred to by the brand name Fiesta.
Why Iron Chelate Works on Broadleaf Weeds
Iron is an essential nutrient for all plants, but broadleaf weeds—like dandelions, plantain, and thistle—absorb it much faster than your turfgrass does. This rapid, uncontrolled iron absorption causes a toxic overdose, leading to cell damage, browning, and collapse within hours.
| Weed Type | Effect of Iron Chelate | Why? |
| Broadleaf Weeds (Dandelion, Plantain) | Highly Effective | High surface area and rapid iron uptake. |
| Turfgrass (Kentucky Blue Grass, Fescue, Ryegrass) | Negligible Effect | Turfgrass absorbs iron slowly, making it safe for your lawn. |
| Creeping Weeds (Clover, Black Medic) | Slower, Weaker Response | Waxy, low-growing leaves offer less surface area for absorption. |
The Truth About Creeping Weeds
As the second generation of Dr. Green, we can confirm what the decades have taught us: creeping weeds (clover, Creeping Charlie, ground ivy) are the toughest to eliminate with any iron-based product.
They hug the ground, have waxy leaves, and spread via stolons and rhizomes. A single application may weaken them, but they rarely disappear overnight. This is not a product failure; it’s plant science.
The best way to truly beat creeping weeds is through turf competition:
- Set your mowing height high (3–4 inches) to shade out the low-growing weeds.
- Focus heavily on aeration and overseeding to create a dense canopy that smothers them.
The Dr. Green Promise: Expertise You Can Trust
We’re proud Canadians, and your lawn is a reflection of our family’s legacy. We don’t just sell services; we sell the expertise earned over 40 seasons.
If you’re tired of treating symptoms and ready to invest in a long-term plan for a thick, weed-resistant lawn, let’s talk. We can build a customized program for your Vaughan property that leverages fertilizer, weed control, aeration, overseeding, and pest management (grub control, chinch bug control, mosquito and tick control) to create the healthy, beautiful lawn you deserve.
