How Does Pre-Emergent Weed Control Work for Lawns?

You’ve heard the term “an ounce of prevention” but what about an ounce of pre-emergent? While the truth is you may need a little more than an ounce of a pre-emergent weed control to keep your lawn weed-free, a little pre-emergent does go a long way toward keeping your grass in tip-top shape for months to come. 

Instead of spending hours pulling weeds by hand, save yourself some serious effort by using a pre-emergent to keep your weeds under control this season (and beyond).

What Is Pre-Emergent Weed Control?

Pre-emergent weed controls are a kind of herbicide applied before weeds begin to grow that prevents weed growth. Pre-emergents are available in either liquid or granular form and there are products for lawns, flower beds, and even vegetable gardens.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Apply a Pre-Emergent Weed Control for Your Lawn?

Though pre-emergent herbicides are not meant to target non-weeds, if applied at the wrong time of year they can stop other plants from germinating. So, knowing when to apply them is critical. The best times of year to apply pre-emergents are early spring and fall when soil temperatures are consistently around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Applying Pre-Emergents in the Spring

Many homeowners choose to treat their lawns and flower beds in the spring with a pre-emergent in order to cut down on summer weeds. While this can be highly effective, it is important to remember that pre-emergents will keep most seeds from germinating, including lawn seeds. 

Be sure to either use the pre-emergent long enough before you wish to germinate seeds (or germinate your seeds indoors and transplant) or apply after any seed you’ve planted has sprouted. Once plants have emerged, pre-emergents will not harm them.

Applying Pre-Emergents in the Fall 

A pre-emergent applied in the spring won’t last through the fall, so the savvy lawn care specialist will often reapply in early fall to keep cooler temperature weeds from sprouting. Even if they don’t look particularly abundant in the fall, many of those tricky weeds will harbor their seeds through winter and wreak havoc on your lawn in the spring, so a fall pre-emergent is an excellent preventative.

Should You Use a Pre-Emergent?

Using pre-emergents in addition to a regular lawn care routine is a great way to keep weeds under control without having to use toxic chemicals to spot treat your lawn. Many homeowners use pre-emergents in conjunction with other DIY ways to control and kill weeds in their yard, 

But if your lawn is already riddled with weeds, it’s too late for pre-emergent. You’ll need to look for a post-emergent product (aka, weed killer). 

Ask a Lawn Care Specialist 

If the who, what, when, where, why, and how of lawn care list starts getting too long, call in a local lawn care professional to take care of it for you and you’ll soon have a little more time to enjoy the green, green grass of home.