Does your yard suffer from dandelions, clover, mallow, oxalis, or spurge? Are you sick of spending your precious weekends pulling weeds out of your lawn and garden rather than enjoying your outdoor spaces? It is time to stop weeds in their tracks! Today, we are providing you with a detailed guide on the importance of pre-emergent weed control, when to apply it for optimal results, weed prevention tips that pair well with treatment, and how we at Colonial Lawn & Garden can help you maintain a weed-free lawn.
Understanding Pre-Emergent Weed Control:
Pre-emergent weed control is a specific type of herbicide treatment that is designed to target weed seeds before they have the chance to germinate fully. Compared to post-emergent weed control, which kills weeds after they have already sprouted, pre-emergent weed control spray creates a protective barrier in the soil of your lawn to stop weed growth before it happens.
Similar to how someone would put on sunscreen to protect their skin from the damage of the sun’s harsh UV rays when taking a trip to the beach, pre-emergent acts as a barrier to prevent weeds from taking over a healthy lawn. Overall, this treatment is considered one of the best methods to prevent weed growth in one’s yard!
The Best Times to Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control:
One of the most common errors we see homeowners make when maintaining their lawns is applying pre-emergent weed control too early or too late. A key indicator of when to apply pre-emergent weed control is based on soil temperature. Many weed species typically start to germinate when soil temperatures rest between 55°F and 70°F for about a week. While there isn’t a specific date, since temperatures fluctuate each year, this usually lands in early spring as well as fall, which brings us to recommend the use of early spring and/or fall applications.
#1: Early Spring Applications:
Weeds that managed to germinate in the fall typically won’t grow during the winter as it is simply too cold. Instead, they will lie dormant for months and then grow rapidly once the environmental conditions are once again favorable. Using a pre-emergent weed control lawn spray service in the early spring will kill off these dormant summer weed seeds, especially crabgrass, before they can grow once the weather warms.
#2: Fall Applications:
With fall comes cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, a perfect storm for excessive weed growth. Similar to application in spring, applying a pre-emergent weed control lawn spray service in fall ensures that the protective layer is in place before the weeds begin to sprout; it is especially effective for preventing winter annual weeds like chickweed. You just want to make sure you get in your fall application before the temperature drops below 55°F.
Of course, we recommend consulting with a professional service to determine when your property needs a lawn spray service to ensure the best results.
Weed Prevention Tips for Successful Pre-Emergent Lawn Spray Service:
When working with pre-emergent weed control, it takes more than simply spraying down your lawn to get the greatest bang for your buck. To enhance your probability of success, we recommend pairing the following weed prevention tips with your application.
- Make sure to distribute the pre-emergent application across the lawn evenly. You want full, consistent coverage, as spotty coverage could leave areas vulnerable to weeds.
- Ensure the lawn is adequately watered after application to activate the product. This helps to ensure the application deeply penetrates the soil.
- Avoid disturbing the soil barrier after application to maintain effectiveness. You will want to avoid walking on, playing on, or using equipment on the application for 24-72 hours.
- Understand that timing varies based on local climate conditions. The main goal is to apply the spray before the first frost or after the last freeze when the soil is optimal.
- Consult an expert on the best course of action for your lawn. Often, homeowners are unaware of underlying lawn condition concerns that may be affecting the health of their property. Speaking with a professional and utilizing professional services ensures that your lawn is properly maintained.
How Colonial Lawn & Garden Can Help – Your Local Lawn Spray Service:
At Colonial Lawn & Garden, we understand what a nuisance weeds are for your lawn. We understand your frustration at how they always seem to crop up and leave unsightly blotches on what is otherwise a beautiful lawn, and they never seem to end. We don’t want you to have to battle weeds every weekend, which is why we use the best and most effective weed control products on the market.
As a local lawn service company in Tri-Cities, Washington, we are experts on the wide range of weed species and types in your lawn. Some of the most common weeds we see here are dandelions, clover, morning glory, plantain, mallow, goathead, oxalis, spurge, and, of course, we can’t forget crabgrass. Did you know that a single crabgrass plant can produce 150,000 seeds during the growing season, and ungerminated seeds live in the soil for as long as 30 years before sprouting? Once they are there, they are a menace to handle, but that’s where pre-emergent weed control can help!
As a part of our Lawn Care Program, we help your lawn grow thick and healthy with our pre-emergent weed control lawn care spray that is kid and pet-safe! On top of that, we also control those weeds that somehow are able to break through with post-emergent weed control treatments. In addition to weed control, our Lawn Care Program also includes six seasonal lawn inspections, top-of-the-line fertilization services, and grub control services.
Need more for your lawn? Colonial Lawn and Garden also offers sprinkler system maintenance, tree and shrub care, perimeter pest control, lawn maintenance, equipment maintenance, and other seasonal services!
Ready to keep your lawn weed-free? Contact Colonial Lawn & Garden today to schedule a professional pre-emergent weed control service for your lawn!
