Our Minnesota summers are short; that means as soon as the weather starts to warm up is the perfect time to get your lakefront property in order. Part of this process should include addressing the issue of beach weeds. Weeds can take over a beach quickly, making it difficult to enjoy your time there. In this article, we’ll give you 4 tips on how to clear your beach of weeds this summer. With these tips, you’ll be able to keep your lakeshore looking pristine all season long!
Research the type of weeds you have on your beach.
Researching the weeds on your beach can be an important step in preserving the environment. Aquatic weeds can have a major impact on shoreline ecosystems. From cattails to pondweed, these plant species are essential sources of food and shelter for a variety of aquatic life forms and birds – yet an excessive proliferation of them may be detrimental to the beauty and health of our beaches. An overgrowth can not only prevent us from enjoying sand between our toes but also encourage more algae growth than is desired.
By understanding what weeds are most commonly found near your beach and what they do, you can create a healthier habitat for both people and animals alike. Education is key when monitoring your beach weeds, so make sure to stay up to date on research findings, as changes in their presence or activity could indicate potential hazards—both ecological and human health-wise—for people who frequent your beach.
Pull them up by hand, making sure to get the roots.
Keeping your lakefront property free of weeds may seem like a daunting task, but it can be done with proper maintenance. Pulling weeds up by hand is the most efficient and effective method; just make sure to get the roots while you’re at it. This will help prevent potential spread of invasive species and reduce the need for drastic control measures.
In addition to hand weeding, regular beach grooming can help prevent weed growth by removing debris and creating an environment that is less conducive to weed growth. By taking these measures to maintain your lakeshore, you can create a beautiful and healthy environment for visitors to enjoy for years to come.
Shoreline weeds becoming a problem? Use a weed whacker or other tools to help cut them down.
Plants on beaches can grow quickly and can be hard to manage, especially if you are looking for a picture perfect shoreline. One way to get them back under control, or simply maintain the plants in that area is by using a weed whacker. Weed whackers can easily cut through the weeds and make them easier to remove with your hands or other tools such as a hoe or rake. Weed whackers or shears also don’t cause any harm to adjacent plants, unlike some chemical treatments that could have an environmental impact if used incorrectly. Just make sure to get familiar with operating a weed whacker safely before starting any project!
Introduce beneficial plants to disrupt the growth of beach weeds.
Another method to reduce those annoying weeds is to introduce beneficial plants around your beach area, such as native grasses. Native grasses are well-adapted to the local environment and can be helpful at suppressing weed growth. They have deep root systems that help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. Additionally, they can outcompete other plants for resources such as water and sunlight, making them more successful in a given area than non-native species. 
Native grasses not only help control the spread of weeds, but they can also provide other benefits to the environment. The grasses can provide shelter for wildlife as well as help increase the biodiversity of that given area. Another advantage of planting native grasses is its ability to improve the water quality. It does this by reducing runoff and filtering pollutants from stormwater before it reaches other nearby bodies of water. By introducing these plants near your beach, not only are you helping yourself, but you’re benefiting the local environment as well.
Looking for more ways you can beautify your property while also helping the environment? Check out our blog post about 4 eco-friendly lakefront practices you can adopt this summer!
Conclusion
Beach weeds can be a significant problem for lakeshore property owners for several reasons. First and foremost, they can negatively impact the appearance of the beach, making it less attractive to both property owners and any visitors you may invite over. Additionally, weeds can also create a safety hazard by making it difficult to walk or swim in the water near the shore. Finally, if left unchecked, beach weeds can significantly reduce property values as potential buyers may be turned off by an unkempt or overgrown beachfront area. For all these reasons, it’s important for lakeshore property owners to take steps to control and prevent weed growth on their beaches.
Researching the types of weeds on your property is essential to understanding how to best remove them. Pulling them up by hand is a great way to get rid of them, but make sure to get the roots to reduce the spread of invasive species. Utilizing tools for those large shoreline weeds can make this task more manageable, especially for those bigger areas. And finally, introducing beneficial plants (like native grasses) around the beach area can disrupt the growth & spread of those weeds. With these tips, you’ll be able to keep your beach looking picture perfect all season long.
If this all seems too daunting of a task for you to take on alone though, don’t worry – contact our team of experts for help! Our crew has 20 years of experience working with lakefront properties around Minnesota and will give you personalized advice tailored for your specific situation. Don’t wait any longer – contact us today and get ready to love your lakefront!
