Key Points
Apply pre-emergent herbicide once soil temperature hits 55°F for a few days in a row.
Using on frozen or too-wet soil will be ineffective, and applying too late allows weeds to germinate.
Prevent weeds in spring by applying fertilizer, overseeding, and using a post-emergent herbicide.
Pre-emergent herbicide is a chemical weed prevention treatment that comes in granular and liquid form. Applying it to your lawn or garden before any seeds have the chance to germinate can help save major removal time and effort in warmer months—but there’s a very specific window in which it can be used.
We spoke to the pros, and they’re here with everything you need to know about using this substance, and setting up for a thriving lawn this spring.
Meet the Experts
Chrissie Handley is a lawn care specialist and gardening expert at Online Turf.
Greg Cuoco is a lawn expert and CEO of The Difference Landscapes.
Steve Corcoran is the CEO of Lawn Love, a lawn and yard care company.
Is It Too Early for Pre-Emergent Herbicide?
When it comes to applying pre-emergent herbicide, the right time to start is completely set by soil temperature—this means whether or not it’s too early depends entirely on the climate.
“The best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides is when soil temperature has reached 55 degrees Fahrenheit consistently for a few days,” lawn expert Greg Cuoco says. “Use a soil thermometer and measure the top two inches of the soil. Optimal herbicide application timing could be in February or early April, depending on where you live.”
According to lawn care specialist Chrissie Handley, even if you do experience 55°F temperatures for a few days, there are other weather factors to keep an eye out for.
“You need the ground to be mild and, ideally dry,” she says. “You shouldn’t apply it onto frozen ground or during periods of heavy rain, as the product may be washed away or broken down before those weeds have even started to grow again.”
How to Keep Weeds from Popping Up in Spring
Although pre-emergent herbicide can be a powerful and effective tool to combat common weeds like crabgrass, chickweed, and dayflower, it only works if applied before germination.
If you miss your window or want to try multiple weed prevention and control methods throughout the year, our experts say having a healthy lawn that can absorb maximum nutrients is key.
They have three go-tos they swear by: overseeding, using the right fertilizer, and using post-emergent herbicide if you need to.
“I would always recommend overseeding thin and bare areas and using a balanced, slow-release lawn fertilizer,” lawn expert Steve Corcoran shares. “These things will help encourage healthy grass growth which can help beat out weeds.”
If you are overseeding an especially barren-looking patch of lawn, make sure not to apply any pre-emergent herbicide to that area. It’ll tackle all germinating seeds, including your freshly-planted grass.
For overseeding of the entire yard, you’ll want to wait at least 12 weeks after applying pre-emergent to plant.
Use Liquid Herbicide
When picking a post-emergent herbicide, Cuoco recommends looking for a liquid form that can be sprayed directly onto problem areas.
4 Things You Can Do to Care for Your Lawn in February
Even if you live in a colder climate and can’t apply pre-emergent yet, there are still a few yard care steps you can take in February to set yourself up for a more successful spring.
Clear Debris
Winter winds and storms tend to cause a lot of chaos in yards; as weather starts to calm down over the course of the month, February is an ideal opportunity to clear up old mulch, broken branches, piles of leaves, and any other debris that has accumulated.
Prep Gardening Tools
Most gardening and yard maintenance tools spend the colder months hiding in sheds or garages—making sure they’re all in running order now will save you some serious stress when spring begins.
Check rakes, tools, trimmers, and weed whackers to see if they’re still in good shape, and clean and sharpen your lawn mower blades.
Test Soil
As soon as the ground has thawed enough, our pros say to test the pH of your soil and identify any current nutrient deficiencies. Knowing these in advance means you’ll have plenty of time to secure a custom-made fertilizer or any garden lime needed.
Check Irrigation System
Blowing out your sprinkler system in winter is crucial to help make sure pipes don’t crack or freeze; before you turn it back on for spring, it’s important to check over and test the system for any damage.
If you have another other irrigation system type, such as a drip irrigation system, it’s worth testing and inspecting valves and hoses as well.
Read the original article on The Spruce
Comments are closed.