Developing a Pre-Emergent Strategy for Summer Weeds
We are in the last week of February and spring will be here in less than a month. You should start developing a pre-emergent strategy for summer weeds now. Valley Green carries a large selection of pre-emergent herbicides for spring lawn care. When planning out your pre-emergent strategy, always pay attention to the timing, the weather, and the type of herbicide you are applying. It is also important to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and to wear the proper safety equipment.
Timing an application of pre-emergent herbicides is critical.
The trickiest part of developing a pre-emergent strategy for summer weeds is timing it. Always remember that pre-emergent herbicides don’t kill the seeds of weeds before they germinate. They fatally interrupt their growth process to prevent the seed from getting to the actual stage of germination. For this process to work, the soil must be at the right temperature which is 50 – 55 degrees. When your soil warms to the correct temperature will depend on where you live. If you are developing a pre-emergent strategy in the northeast, you will have to wait for the end of May. Applying the herbicide then will kill crabgrass, foxtails, and goosegrass. This will help you have a weed-free summer.
Pre-emergent must be mixed right and applied correctly.
If you are using a spray pre-emergent herbicide, be sure to mix it correctly or it will not be at the appropriate strength. Always read the manufacturer’s recommendations and don’t forget to calibrate your sprayer. Coverage is also very important when applying pre-emergents. Think of them as a blanket, you need to cover an entire area for them to work correctly. Spot spraying does nothing as it leaves plenty of room for weeds to come through. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions but note that it normally takes 1 to 2 gallons of spray solution to cover 1000 square feet.
Pre-emergents need to be watered in.
Watering activates the herbicide and creates a barrier just below the surface. Most products call for a half-inch of irrigation or rain within twenty-one days after application. If the area you are planning on applying the pre-emergent in an area where there is no irrigation, do it just before rain is anticipated.
Limit the activity on the lawn.
It is very important that the soil remains undisturbed after the application of the herbicide. This means you should hold off on some other spring landscape duties. Hold off on aeration and mowing until the pre-emergent has been watered. If you can avoid it, you should also not walk on the lawn.