What Do Lawn Care Companies Use To Kill Weeds

What Do Lawn Care Services Do

If you’re thinking about hiring a lawn care service, to choose the right company and level of service, you need to find out the range of services they offer.

Lawn care services work with different products, tools, techniques, and schedules, but the results they promise are similar from company to company.

Companies usually offer customers a selection of packages that include specified treatment plans to take place over the course of a year. Some lawn care services also offer one-time treatments, some automatically renew the contract each year, but almost all allow you to cancel a contract at any time and pay only for the visits you have received.

These are the most common types of lawn treatments, all of which you can do on your own if you dont want to hire help.

Andersons Barricade Professional Weed Control

The Best No Frills Granular Weed Controller

Andersons Barricade is a pre-emergent herbicide. In short, its a weed preventer. This means that it stops the weeds from growing in the first place, but it wont kill existing weeds. This product is ideal to use in early spring and fall before the weeds have time to grow. It helps to prevent over 30 broadleaf and grass-type weeds from growing in your lawn. This includes perennial weeds like crabgrass, foxtail, goosegrass, henbit, and lambs quarter.

Preventing the weed problem in the first place is always the best solution. If you apply this weed control product in early spring and fall, the weeds are unable to germinate and grow. Plus, its easy to apply just use a spreader after youve mown the lawn. Remember to water it in thoroughly, though.

Best Professional Lawn Care: Trugreen

If you instead want to opt for professional lawn care to make your weed killing truly effortless and highly effective, TruGreen is one of the best companies you can choose. TruGreen has many different service plans available, including targeted weed killer applications, fertilization, pest control applications, and additional services to beautify your property further.

TruGreens technicians are highly trained and knowledgeable, and they use soil tests and science to determine the best products for your property. The company has a massive service area spanning all continental states, and it provides weeding services at a very affordable rate, especially for the quality. Check out TruGreens plans today to see which is right for you and your home.

• St. Augustinegrass: 1- to 3-in.
• Zoysia grass: 1/2- to 1-in.

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Well Prevention Is Indeed Better Than Cure

The initial step to preventing or eliminating weeds is choosing the right herbicidal treatment. Pre-emergent and post-emergent treatments have significantly different effects. The former prevents weed seeds from growing and taking root. It then gets rid of weeds that have taken root in your lawn or garden.

Although the usual herbicides work at times, sometimes we need to use stronger solutions to achieve our desired result. Say, to control a lawn overrun by crabgrass and other weeds. Or perhaps you have a vast area, and the small solution bottle from the local hardware shop wont cut it.

Landscapers frequently have access to solid pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. Here are some of the weed-killing methods used by lawn care businesses, organized by category.

Check The Soil Ph And Nutrient Levels Regularly

As explained, soil nutrients deplete over time as your garden plants and lawn grass consume them. The loss of nutrients in the soil can also influence pH, affecting how well your grass can continue to thrive.

Checking your soil quality and nutrient levels at least once a year is crucial to maintaining a lush, green lawn. You can use home test kits to check the soil pH. However, for more accurate results, you can collect several samples from multiple spots on your lawn and send them to a laboratory or a nearby cooperative extension.

That way, you can identify what nutrients are lacking in your lawn and formulate the right kind of fertilizer. It can also give you an idea of how frequently you must fertilize your soil and what amendments to use to improve the quality.

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Whats A Consumer To Do

If youre concerned about the potential health and environmental effects of synthetic lawn chemicals, you might think the answer is choosing organic chemicals instead, or employing a green lawn-care service. But that can be harder than it sounds.

For agriculture, the federal government enforces regulations for food producers that would like to label their food as organic. But no federal laws exist for organic lawn-care products or service providers.

Before you hire a provider advertising organic lawn care, ask plenty of questions, says Michele Bakacs, associate professor and county agent with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in New Jersey. If the first thing the landscaper talks to you about is the type of product that theyre using, well, that may be a little bit of a warning sign, she says. Instead, look for a provider that offers a soil test and talks to you about improving the health of your soil, putting the right plant in the right place for your yard and using several types of turfgrass. These are signs of a provider interested in the unique ecology of your yard.

Although uncertainty remains about the extent of the harms of lawn products, reducing risks to people and the environment is easy: Avoid using synthetic lawn chemicals. There are other ways to achieve the same goals that are better for your lawn and for your family .

Editors Note: This article also appeared in the May 2021 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Catherine Roberts

Why Trust The Spruce

This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer and garden reviewer for The Spruce. As a certified horticulturist, she delighted in personally testing out the products to provide advice to those with different needs, yards, and values when it comes to weed control.

To make this list, Amanda Rose tested each over the course of a month on different spots in the yard. She also considered the difficulty in application, chemicals used, and tested rain resistance.

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Be Proactive With Your Herbicides

If you are trying to get a jump start on keeping weeds out of your gardens, one thing you can try is a pre-emergent herbicide. Most of your local garden supply stores carry one form of this herbicide or another, though the most popular and effective one to try is prodiamine.

This barrier agent is generally applied as a water-soluble solution that is sprayed over your lawn using a low-pressure setting. Treat your yard with these pre-emergent herbicides at least twice a year. Add once in early springtime and once again at the beginning of fall.

Choosing The Right Weed Killer That Wont Kill Flowers

A good weed killer for your flower bed should have several qualities. It should be well-formulated, feature low weed resistance, and be compatible with other agrochemicals.

The ingredients that make up a herbicide should be a formula thats balanced for the right results. If you have children or pets around, its best to avoid chemicals such as glyphosate, and stick to natural weed killers.

Weeds develop resistance when the same herbicide is used often, eventually making the weed killer ineffective. Users should know the resistance capabilities of weeds before using a particular herbicide.

Some plants use a combination of several agrochemicals for proper growth and development. Therefore, its imperative that the ingredients used to make a herbicide are compatible with the other agrochemicals used on the resident plants and flowers.

So, as ever, the answer to the question what is a good weed killer for flowerbeds, is, it depends. Read on for some help on making your decision.

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Is Weed Killer Pet Safe

Some but not all weed killers are safe to use on lawns or in areas frequented by children or pets. Other toxic options should never be used where kids or pets might play. Its crucial to understand the safety information for any weed killer you use and only use natural, organic, and kid- and pet-safe products when needed.

Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus

Overview

This product comes from a reputed brand which has a range of effective weed killers. It contains 18 percent glyphosate and another active ingredient called Diquat. This is a potent mix and is a competent contact and systematic herbicide. It will kill the weeds quickly on the surface and also reach the root system preventing the roots from growing and spreading to surrounding areas.

After spraying, within 12 hours, you will notice the start of weed decay and death will occur within a couple of weeks. The FastAct technology of the product makes it super fast and highly effective. It comes in a concentrated form, and you will need to mix it with water in the required proportion. About 16 oz can make up to 10 gallons of spray. This herbicide becomes rainproof just after 30 minutes of spraying.

Pros

• Effectively kills weeds with the two active ingredients
• Becomes rainproof in 30 minutes
• Results are visible just after 12 hours

Cons

• Though very useful, it is slightly more expensive

This is a fast-acting herbicide with two active ingredients. Works on the weed on the surface and on its root system to eradicate it completely.

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Ten Things You Need To Know About Weed Control Service

For every lawn yard or garden, weed control is an aspect of lawn care that must be taken seriously. Weeds actively compete with your plants for space, food, water, air, and nutrients. Leaving your plants unattended means youre inviting weeds to the party and oftentimes, they will win.

Fortunately, most lawn care services also offer weed control which means your yard gets weed removal as part of the package when you sign up.

In this post, we have discussed the ten things to know about a weed control service and why you should hire one to keep your lawn weed-free and healthy!

Weed Killer Safety & Precautions

Safety precautions are simply meant to keep users of weedkiller safe to avoid unnecessary challenges. The following are some of the safety guidelines that can help preserve the health of herbicide users:

• Use personal protective equipment , which includes overalls, a dust mask, eye goggles, gumboots, and waterproof gloves.
• Avoid leather and canvas clothes as they may absorb and retain the herbicide.
• Read instructions carefully before starting to ensure the application is correct and the desired results are achieved.
• Carry extra cloths to manage spills.
• Wash hands before leaving the gardening area for whatever reason.
• Avoid spraying in windy climatic conditions.
• Wash your clothes immediately after accidental spillage.
• In case of contact during spillage, wash your skin thoroughly. However, you should seek medical attention if any changes are detected in the affected area of the body.

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Weeds Are Detrimental To Your Garden

In a garden, these self-invited guests creep out of the ground, seemingly coming out of nowhere. They not only harm your plants, but also steal their nutrients. Their mere presence sabotages all the efforts that you may have put towards nurturing your flora, and all you can think of is learning how to kill weeds.

To add yet another negative point to these vexing vines, they can be particularly damaging to crops or fresh produce. This means that if you have a charming vegetable garden or a commercial crop field, you cannot protect your plants without killing some weeds.

Top 10 Weed Killers For Lawns

These products are great for their specific functions and thats why Ive listed them with their most effective use. Using them will get rid of different types of weeds in your lawn and flower beds.

Some are great for large areas, broad-leaf selective removal, and grassy weeds while others are great for people with kids and pets. Not sure what type of weed you have, please refer to our weed identification directory.

Here are the top 10 lawn weed killers with reviews and ratings:

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What Are The Symptoms Of Lawn Care Pesticide Poisoning

They are deceptively simple and similar to those of other illnesses. Pesticides attack the central nervous system and other vital body centers. Some symptoms include: sore nose, tongue, or throat, burning skin or ears, rash, excessive sweating or salivation, chest tightness, asthma-like attacks, coughing, muscle pain, seizures, headaches, eye pain, blurred or dim vision, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, tissue swelling, anxiety, suicidal depression, irritability, angry outbursts, disturbed sleep, learning disabilities, fatigue, dizziness, unexplained fever, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, stroke, death.

Even without apparent symptoms, exposure may still be harmful. Long term problems may include: lower male fertility, miscarriage, birth defects, chemical sensitivity, immune suppression, cataracts, liver and kidney dysfunction, heart disturbances, and cancer.

Best Weed Killers: Comparison + Rating

In a hurry? Here are the best weed killers weve compared by category:

Syngenta Tenacity Turf Herbicide

• Pre and post-emergent crabgrass killer.
• Kills a lot of other tough grass weeds too
• Destroys weeds to the root.

• Most effective selective crabgrass killer.
• Rainproof within 24 hour
• See results in 7 days.

• Kills crabgrass to the root
• Kills dozens of other weeds as well.
• Does not affect lawn grass.

Syngenta Tenacity Turf Herbicide

• Pre and post-emergent crabgrass killer.
• Kills a lot of other tough grass weeds too
• Destroys weeds to the root.

• Most effective selective crabgrass killer.
• Rainproof within 24 hour
• See results in 7 days.

Celsius

• Kills crabgrass to the root
• Kills dozens of other weeds as well.
• Does not affect lawn grass.

Affiliate links and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 2022-09-18

In the table, Ive shown the most important features youll get with each of the top weed killers on the market today. Below, well discuss what to look for when selecting one for your lawn.

Ive also done in-depth reviews of each of these weed killers, so be sure to read the details below.

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What Does Trugreen Use To Kill Weeds

TruGreen® uses a selective systemic broadleaf weed killer as part of our weed control program for your lawn, which ensures the product moves throughout the weed, killing it completely, root and all. Depending on variables such as weed type and time of year, some weeds may require multiple applications.

Our Organic Weed Control Program

Combine the Clean Air Lawn Care weed control program with a fertilizer program and youll get a lush, healthy, and safe lawn. Our fertilizer and weed control programs are focused on building and maintaining healthy soils. Healthy soils grow healthy grass, and healthy grass resists disease and weeds. Healthy, organically grown lawns are also more environmentally friendly, thanks to their increased ability to capture carbon and host a healthy soil microbiome. You can learn more about our approach to keeping lawns healthy and weed-free here.

Your weed control program will depend on your location, as different regions require different approaches. However, expect to have three to four weed control treatment applications starting in early spring. Repeat applications are necessary to completely kill weeds. The Moose Juice recipe isnt as harsh as synthetic herbicides, so it does take a bit more time to work completely. However, you will see weeds weakening immediately. Youll notice dandelions and other broadleaf weeds drying up and even blackening within hours of your first treatment. Ask your local franchise owner about their pet-safe weed control program today!

Dont have a local franchise owner? Consider opening one yourself! Learn more about our franchise opportunities here. Or use the button below to request more information.

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The Right Weed Killer For The Job

In order to treat your lawn and garden correctly, you need to know which kind of weed killer to use. Herbicides and weed killers can be broken down into four main categories: the pre emergent, post emergent, selective, and non selective. Let me briefly explain what each of these kinds of weed killers are.

• Pre Emergent Herbicides: Weed killers you apply to prevent weeds from growing, i.e. before the weeds have emerged. You generally want to apply these in the spring and fall.
• Post Emergent Herbicides: Weed killers you apply after the weed has grown out beyond the grass or surface.
• Selective Herbicides: Weed killers that are made to target a specific kind of weed. This is useful for when you want to kill the weeds in your lawn, but not your lawn.
• Non Selective Herbicides: Weed killers that are made to kill a broad spectrum of weeds all at once.

There are other commercial grade weed control products that you can use in conjunction with the above types of herbicides, called surfactants. A surfactant is a solution that you apply with the weed killer to help it spread out onto the weed better and to make the herbicide water resistant, so it stays on the weed if it rains or gets wet.

You can also use a product called a turf dye indicator or turf marker to mix with your commercial weed killer concentrate sprays. These indicator dyes will temporarily color the turf to allow you to see where you sprayed, ensuring even coverage.

Application Equipment Also Factors Into Proper Weed Control

When youre looking at the chemicals lawn care companies use to kill weeds, you also have to look at how they are applied to your lawn. When lawn care experts apply pre-emergent herbicides in granular form, they use a high-end spreader that is precisely calibrated to get even application.

When your lawn care technician uses post-emergent herbicides in liquid form, he or she is using a hose application that targets larger droplets onto your lawn, reducing the potential for drift and ensuring the product reaches a precise location the weed you want to go away. Drift is the impact wind can have on any lawn care application, and you certainly don’t want to be losing product to wind or directing product away from the weed youre targeting.

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