When Should You Apply Weed Killer To Your Lawn

How To Overseed A Weedy Lawn

Weeds like bare spots and can continue to spread and invade your lawn if you dont do anything about them. Thats why overseeding helps control them by making your lawn thicker and fuller, and able to choke out weeds.

Overseeding is time and cost-effective, as you dont have to till and tear apart your lawn. Instead, youre breathing life back by adding more grass seeds on top of an existing lawn. If done right, this technique lets you grow enough lush lawn that fills in the bare or thin patches in your yard, leaving no room for weeds to grow.

Heres how to overseed a lawn with weeds:

Safety Issues Around The Home

Not only should we protect ourselves when spraying weed killer by wearing long sleeves, gloves and goggles, as well as using a respirator and protective headgear, but we should protect others. We need to read the label to know how long we must stay out of the treated area, but before that, we need to keep pets indoors. Also, we need to keep children away from the sprayed area before and after, so they should be inside during the spraying and avoid the area for the duration specified on the label.

Tips & Tricks

When To Apply Fall Pre

If you live in the warm southern states, or along the west coast, fall and winter are aggressive growing seasons for winter weeds like annual bluegrass and deadnettle. If you live in one of these regions and dont want to spend your winter battling weeds, a fall application of pre-emergent weed killer can be a lifesaver.

Once soil temperatures drop down to 70 for 23 days at the end of summer, apply a fall pre-emergent formulation and water it into your lawn. This will keep those winter weeds from sprouting.

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Best Weed Killer For Lawns Buyers Guide

Weve recommended both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed killers. Weve also included a couple of non-selective weed killers for areas where you want to eradicate all weeds, including poison ivy. So, how do you choose the best weed killer for your situation?

Firstly, you need to decide what types of weeds you want to eradicate. Make a note of what season youre currently in, and take a look at which weed killer would be best for you.

Mow The Lawn On The Lowest Setting

Set your mower to the lowest setting possible in order to scalp the lawn you want to overseed. Scalping your lawn helps improve the seed-to-soil contact that in turn improves the rate of seed germination. Set your lawn mowers deck as low as possible though any setting between 1.5 and 2 inches would be a good option to consider if the lawn does not have too many weeds.

• If your lawn is level, you can set the mowing deck as low as 1 inch from the ground.
• If your lawn is bumpy, set the blades a little higher up to 2 inches to prevent damaging the blades.

Pro tip: Always bag clippings if your lawn has weeds that have gone to seed to prevent spreading weed seeds all over your yard and worsening the problem.

It is also a good idea, in my experience, to mow right before the rainy week to keep the lawn moist. It makes my mowing job a lot easier as the grass is soft and the thatch easy to remove right before overseeding weedy lawns.

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The Basic Types Of Chemical Weed Killer:

BROADLEAF WEED TYPES

This will kill most broad-leaf weeds without hurting grass. Different brands have 2 to 4 active ingredients geared toward different types of weeds, or with a different mode of action. Always verify that it will be safe on your type of grass. A great choice among products in this category is SpeedZone from DoMyOwnPestControl.com

GRASSY WEED TYPES

These are NOT safe to use on your lawn.

If it kills a weed grass, it will kill your lawn. It is great for any grassy weeds in your flower bed or ground cover areas. Grassy weeds in your lawn must be hand-pulled, or prevent them next season by using a pre-emergent weed killer.

SEDGE OR NUT-GRASS TYPES

This is a very specific killer. One called SedgeHammer, formerly Manage, should be safe to use on most grass lawns and is very effective. Some older weed killer products claim to kill nutgrass, but the active ingredient is MSMA, which is more commonly used to kill crabgrass. It may work alright, but check carefully about the safety of your grass variety.

NON-SELECTIVE TYPES

The well-known Round-up is the best example of this. There are many generic versions that offer the same active ingredient, though not the same surfactant which helps absorption.

All of these non-selective weed killers will kill your grass.

SPECIAL MENTION

Bermuda grass is a creeping grass that is used by some as a lawn grass. Other people consider it a weed when it invades their lawn of fescue, rye or bluegrass.

Weed Information And Control:

There are different weed control methods, depending on the weed and the lawn. Here are your options:

Cultural weed control: One of the most effortless ways to control weeds is through avoidance or social control. Near planting within the garden can decrease weed growth by killing open space? Cover crops are great for this as well. Including mulch will avoid light from getting to weed seeds and avoids growth.

Mechanical weed control: Mechanical control of common weed plants can be finished through hand pulling, hoeing, burrowing, or cutting . Whereas these strategies are compelling, they can be time-consuming.

Chemical weed control: Since many weeds, like tremble, ivy, and kudzu, can end up forceful to the point of taking over, chemical control is in some cases vital, and used ordinarily a final resort. There are various herbicides accessible to assist kill common weed plants.

Common weed control: For the most part, intrusive weeds are well worth the inconvenience of expulsion. In any case, some weeds can really be very alluring within the garden, so why not consider permitting them to remain. This more characteristic weed control strategy comes about in a rich local environment when given theirs possess assigned spot. A few of these good weeds include:

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Should I Mow Before Applying Weed And Feed

The question is, do you have to cut your grass before applying the weed & feed? If youve been following our blog for a while, you know that the answer is always it depends.

It depends on the type of weeds youre trying to get rid of, the species of grass you have, the phase of the season when youre applying herbicide, how the herbicide works, and, of course, how you mow.

If you have large broad leafed weeds, and are using a post-emergent product, then its best not to mow too short before putting down weed and feed, better to have a larger leaf area for the product to work on.

If you are going to be using a pre-emergent product, you can cut the grass not less than 2 days before application, then water it in, as it needs to get under the surface to start working.

So, the general rule is only mow at least 2 days before you apply weed & feed products, and dont mow before 2 days after the weed and feed application.

What Is The Best Winter Weed Killer

If youre looking for easy ways to kill winter weeds, Tenacity herbicide is one of our favorite options. Tenacity is a lawn-safe herbicide that will wipe out broadleaf weeds and many grassy weeds. Additionally, its been shown to be effective against annual bluegrass in several university studies. If you are spraying winter weeds while your grass is still green, Tenacity is a great choice for most yards. However, its not safe for use on actively growing Bermuda grass.

• Tenacity herbicide is an excellent winter weed killer that is safe on most turf grasses.
• Make sure that any herbicide you use is safe for use on your grass if your lawn is green and growing.
• If your lawn is dormant, you can safely use to Roundup to spray weeds without harming grass.

If your lawn grass is dormant and temperatures are above 40 then you can spray any green weeds and pest grasses with Roundup. Although Roundup is a non-selective herbicide that is harmful to all plants and grasses, it wont harm dormant grass. So, you can safely attack green patches of winter annual weeds among dormant grass just by using Roundup.

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Weed Control Prior To Turf Establishment

A nonselective herbicide should be used to kill existing weeds such as contaminant bermudagrass or nutsedge, which must be eradicated prior to grass establishment. These nonselective herbicides control only emerged plants. For best results, apply two treatments of a nonselective herbicide 14 days apart.

Andersons Barricade Professional Weed Control

The Best No Frills Granular Weed Controller

Andersons Barricade is a pre-emergent herbicide. In short, it’s a weed preventer. This means that it stops the weeds from growing in the first place, but it won’t 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, it’s easy to apply just use a spreader after you’ve mown the lawn. Remember to water it in thoroughly, though.

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How To Control Weeds After Overseeding

Weeds may sprout in your lawn soon after your grass seed starts to germinate. At this time, do not apply herbicides yet. Applying herbicides too soon can kill or weaken the young grass shoots.

Wait until the roots have established and the crown matured enough to withstand the strength and effect of the chemicals.

Also, instead of using equipment such as a power rake, which disrupts lawn surfaces, use less disruptive tools such as a hand rake, as they cause less disruption and dont leave bare patches on the lawn.

Overseed your lawn at the right time to reduce weed competition and enhance the dramatic, successful growth of the overseeding process. You can overseed cool season turf grasses between mid-August and mid-September as a way to fix a weedy yard. These are favorable times for their germination and establishment.

Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer

The Best Off-Season Weed Preventer

This is one of the best pre-emergent weed killers that’s especially potent on crabgrass and other grassy weeds. You’ll want to apply it in the spring and fall. It will prevent the weed seeds from germinating to allow your grass to grow lush and thick. It’s also useful for preventing the growth of moss during winter.

Everyone knows how hard it is to get rid of crabgrass completely, especially once it’s established in your lawn. Preventing its growth in the first place is the perfect solution. This product is super easy to apply and will stop grassy weeds from invading your lawn all through the summer.

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Concentrated or Ready to Use

Amanda Shiffler

Concentrated products are cheaper to purchase but need to be mixed with water to the recommended ratio before application. They also require you own a sprayer to use. Ready to use products are more expensive to buy but are don’t require mixing and may come in a container with an attached sprayer.

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To Provide You With The Highest Quality Products And Methods Available

We offer every kind of service that it takes to develop and maintain a beautiful lawn in Iowa based on the climate, soil types, and the varieties of grass that are commonly grown here.

One of the keys to the success of the program is that we provide treatment to lawns approximately every 8 weeks throughout the growing season. This ensures that the grass has fertilizer available throughout the growing season. Dandelions and other Broadleaf weeds are controlled as they germinate thus enabling a weed free lawn, and our Turf Specialist is at the property four to six times per season to address problems as and when they arise.

Another key to our service is our people. The most important person to you in our company is the Turf Specialist assigned to treat your lawn.

We are proud to say that our Turf Specialists are the best trained and most experienced in the lawn care industry.

When you become a customer at All American Turf Beauty, a Turf Specialist is assigned to your account. You will have the same person treating your lawn each time. It is their responsibility to service your lawn, make sure it is receiving the correct applications as scheduled, and to provide you with the best personalized service possible. Their jobs depend on it.

We have several programs to choose from. Your Turf Specialist will recommend the best program that fits the needs of your lawn and your budget.

Using Weed And Feed Before Rain Or After Rain: The Verdict

In conclusion, it is better to use Weed and Feed after rain. The moist soil can help the plants uptake the nutrients in the fertilizer part. Waiting prevents heavy rains from flooding your lawn and removing the chemicals.

However, you can also use Weed and Feed before rain if you plan at least two days in advance. This gives the active ingredients enough time to start working before rain washes them away.

If you have any further questions about when to use Weed and Feed, please feel free to drop them in the . Thanks for reading!

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What Month Should You Put Down Pre

The best month for applying pre-emergent weed killer varies by region. In northern areas of the US and throughout most of Canada, temperatures may not be ideal for spring pre-emergent application until as late as May. Warm coastal regions in Florida and California may require spring pre-emergent weed killer as early as January.

For your pre-emergent herbicide to be most effective, time your application based on soil temperature, not the date on the calendar. This will ensure you stop weeds before they sprout.

Is April Too Late For Pre

Depending on the climate in your region, or the current years weather patterns, April may be too early or too late to apply a pre-emergent herbicide. In warm regions, such as Florida and California, some species of weeds and invasive grass may begin sprouting in January or February. In the northeast and midwest, cool temperatures may keep weeds at bay until May.

Because pre-emergent herbicide only kills weed seeds as they begin to sprout, plan to apply spring pre-emergents once soil temperatures have come up to 55 for 23 days. Rather than look at the calendar, track soil temperatures in your region to determine the best time to apply your pre-emergent controls.

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How To Prevent Weeds

When it comes to tackling weeds, the best defense is a good offense. You should always take these steps to keep your grass hardy and robust, reducing the chances of weeds taking over.

• Water deeply and infrequentlyIf you want your grass to have strong, deep roots, you need to water deeply and infrequently instead of choosing shallow, daily watering. With deep, sturdy roots, your grass can grow nice and thick and compete with weeds that may try to grow.
• Mow highWeeds need sunlight to grow. If you let your grass blades grow taller by setting your lawn mower to the first or second highest setting, the grass will grow tall enough to cast shade on any weed seeds, preventing them from sprouting.
• Feed regularlyStressed lawns are more susceptible to being crowded by weeds. Feeding regularly will keep your lawn lush and make it less hospitable to enterprising weeds.

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Controlling Lawn Weeds With A Pre

Pre-emergent weed killers control annual lawn weeds while they sprout, which means the herbicide must be on the lawn before the seeds begin to germinate. Annual plants grow during one season, and then set seed and die. Summer annual weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass germinate in the spring and winter. Annual weeds like common chickweed and henbit sprout in early fall. Consequently, to control summer annual weeds, apply a pre-emergent weed killer in early spring, and to control winter annual weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early fall. If you can already see annual weeds in your lawn, it’s too late to apply a pre-emergent herbicide.

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Can You Apply Pre

If pre-emergent herbicide is applied too early, it may have reduced effectiveness or no effect at all. Typically, a pre-emergent weed killer remains in the soil 68 weeks after application. This may seem like a large window with a margin for error, but its important to keep the following in mind:

• Pre-emergents applied too early may lose effectiveness completely before weeds sprout.
• If youre a few weeks early with your pre-emergent application, the weed killer may lose effectiveness just as later-season weed seeds begin sprouting. If this happens, youll see many more weeds as spring moves into summer.
• Very heavy rainfall might somewhat reduce the active lifespan of your pre-emergent. The better you time your pre-emergent application, the more value youll get out of it.
• Soil disruptions, such as digging or uprooting weeds/trees may compromise the effectiveness of your pre-emergent in the digging area. If you apply too early, theres a bigger chance digging animals or your routine lawn maintenance will damage the pre-emergent barrier before it has a chance to work.
• A correctly timed spring pre-emergent will stop early weeds just as they start to sprout and linger long enough to deter later-sprouting species that require warmer temperatures.