A lush, weed-free lawn is the goal of every homeowner, but those darned weeds always seem to be one step ahead, don’t they? They are! By the time weeds appear in your lawn, they have already established an extensive root system, making them difficult to remove without harming your grass. Don’t keep fighting a losing battle! Pre-emergent herbicide is the secret weapon that lets you get ahead of weeds and stop them in their tracks.
What is a pre-emergent herbicide? It is a weed control application that stops weed seeds from becoming established plants, effectively stopping weeds before they even start to grow! Lawn care pre-emergent weed control eliminates your lawn’s competition for water and essential nutrients by making it impossible for the weeds to grow.
Benefits of Using Pre-Emergent for Your Lawn
Pre-emergent herbicide is a proactive approach to weed control. It’s all about getting to the weed seeds before they become established.
Applying properly timed lawn pre-emergent provides many benefits:
- Weed Prevention: Stops weed seeds from developing, eliminating them before they emerge.
- Nutrient Retention: Ensures your lawn receives optimal water and nutrients without competition from weeds.
- Lower Maintenance: Reduces the time, money, and energy spent on weed control.
- Lawn Health: Promotes a thicker and more lush lawn by eliminating competition from weeds.
- Pest Reduction: Eliminates weed-attracting pests that can compromise the health of your lawn.
How Does Lawn Pre-Emergent Work?
It is a common misconception that pre-emergents stop weeds like crabgrass from germinating. In fact, pre-emergent herbicides are designed to inhibit growth after the germination has started to prevent the plant from becoming established and emerging from the ground. Depending on which chemical makeup is used, pre-emergent herbicides work in one or more of three modes of action:
- Inhibiting root growth
- Inhibiting cell division and/or
- Inhibiting growth enzymes
The pre-emergent creates a chemical barrier that blocks plant growth and can last about 12 weeks without harming what is already there.
The Best Time to Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control
The secret to quality weed control is timing. Pre-emergents must be applied before the weed seeds start germinating to be effective. Since some types of weeds germinate in spring while others wait for fall, so you’ll need to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in each season:
- Early Spring: Apply the first pre-emergent in spring, when the soil temperatures reach about 55°F for at least 3 to 5 days.
- Late Spring: In climates with a long growing season, apply a second pre-emergent 6-8 weeks following the first application. This helps catch any weeds that didn’t germinate at the lower temperatures.
- Fall: When the soil temperature falls to 70°F, it’s time for the final application of lawn pre-emergent to target the fall-germinating weeds.
Each pre-emergent herbicide application should be tailored to specifically target the predominant weed types in your area for the season. It’s important to alternate the pre-emergent modes of action — Inhibiting root growth, cell division, or enzymes — to prevent weeds from developing resistance and to minimize environmental impact. You can always contact Lawn Pride® for assistance choosing the right pre-emergent for your timing, needs, and location.
How to Apply Pre-Emergent for Maximum Effectiveness
There are many different pre-emergent herbicides on the market. They’re available in granular and liquid forms. Each requires specific application techniques for effective use. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results and safety compliance.
Using a Granular Pre-Emergent Herbicide:
- Load the Spreader: Pour granular pre-emergent herbicide into a spreader to ensure even application. Set the spreader to the manufacturer’s recommended setting.
- Apply Evenly: Walk at a steady pace to spread the granules evenly across your lawn. Apply the pre-emergent row by row, just like when mowing, slightly overlapping each row to avoid gaps.
- Water to Activate: Irrigate the lawn with at least a half-inch of water within 48 hours of spreading the granulate.
Using a Liquid Pre-Emergent Herbicide:
- Prepare the Sprayer: Pour the properly diluted liquid pre-emergent into a sprayer.
- Spray Uniformly: Apply the herbicide evenly at the manufacturer’s recommended rate, walking at a steady pace. Apply the pre-emergent in overlapping rows to avoid gaps.
- Activate with Water: Allow the liquid to be absorbed for 12 to 24 hours, then apply at least a half-inch of water to activate the chemical barrier in the soil.
Using a Pre-Emergent Fertilizer:
- In Southern and Transition Zones: Choose a pre-emergent fertilizer with a low N-P-K analysis, such as 0-0-7, for a spring application. In fall, as the grass goes dormant, a pre-emergent without fertilizer is the better choice.
- In Cool-Season Zones: A pre-emergent fertilizer with a low to medium Nitrogen content, such as 13-0-0, helps the grass wake up in spring and resume active growth.
A pre-emergent fertilizer is a convenient way to apply the pre-emergent your lawn needs. Just take care to avoid the fertilizer when your lawn should be preparing for dormancy, so you don’t risk feeding weeds while the grass sleeps.
Important Lawn Pre-Emergent Application Tips:
- Safety First: Wear protective gear, including gloves and eyewear, when handling and applying herbicides.
- Environmental Care: Avoid application right before rain or during windy conditions.
- Test Your Soil: Pre-emergent herbicide is most effective when used on soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. So, for best results, conduct a soil test first.
Following these steps ensures your pre-emergent weed control application is safe and effective.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Pre-Emergent Herbicide Applications
When applying lawn pre-emergent, take care to avoid these common mistakes:
- Avoid waiting too long to apply the pre-emergent. It must be applied before weed seeds begin germinating to be effective.
- Avoid applying pre-emergent to newly overseeded turf. You should wait at least 60 days after overseeding before applying pre-emergent.
- Avoid aerating turf too soon after application. This will break the barrier and allow weeds to break through. Wait a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks before aeration.
- Avoid dethatching the lawn too soon following a pre-emergent application, as this, too, will break the barrier. Wait at least 6 to 8 weeks before dethatching.
- Always water after pre-emergent herbicide application to move the product below the ground’s surface to the area where seeds germinate.
Protect Your Lawn with Lawn Pride’s Pre-Emergent Services
The grass pros at Lawn Pride are always happy to help homeowners perfect their lawn care. But sometimes, you’d just rather offload the necessary chores to the experts. Lawn Pride’s comprehensive lawn care services and programs provide everything your lawn needs to thrive. We can handle just your lawn pre-emergent applications if you wish, complete care, or some combination of services that works best for you.
The Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do, so our services are sure to delight you.
Are you ready to enjoy the lawn of your dreams — without the hard work? Request your free estimate and Lawn Pride will do the rest!
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.