When Using Lawn Weed Killer Spray The Whole Yard Or Just Patches Of Weeds Dan Gill’s Mailbag
- Dan Gill, The Times-Picayune garden columnist
Kenner Home Depot high grass and weeds
Grass grows over a large portion of the sidewalk along California Avenue in Kenner on Thursday, July 17, 2014.
QUESTION: If I decide to spray my lawn with the weed killer Atrazine to control winter weeds now, should I spray the whole yard or just patches of weeds? — Mark Wilson
ANSWER: You may do either, but it’s usually best to spray the whole lawn for most effective control. You may not see small weeds, and they will eventually grow larger and cause problems later.
Spray during mild weather when highs are in the 60s/70s and lows are in the 40s/50s. A second application about a month later in February will provide best control of tough weeds like clovers and dollarweed. Do not apply weed killers in the form of weed and feeds . It is way too early to apply fertilizer now.
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Dan Gill is extension horticulturist with the LSU Ag Center. Post your gardening questions for him in the comment stream below.
What Will Kill Weeds But Not Grass
Several lawn weed killers will kill hundreds of types of weeds but will not harm your grass. Any weed killer with an active ingredient of glyphosate will do the trick, but its always great to peruse customer reviews on products you havent tried before. Spectracide is also a good brand. If youre looking for a weed preventer to keep them from germinating in the first place, you can try Preen.
When To Apply Grass Fertilization
Once you have sprayed the weeds with a herbicide, it is time to add fertilizer to your yard. In most cases, you need to apply fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. Many people choose May or June to implement their first application of the fertilizer. You should think about adding another application of fertilizer in the early fall. When you are ready to apply fertilizer, your lawn should not be under any stress, such as scorching heat or heavy frosts. However, there are some exceptions to the rule with different grass species and climates.
Fertilizers are essential to your yards health, and it needs to be fed even in the fall and winter seasons. Many professionals suggest that you fertilize at least four times a year with two-month intervals. In some cases, fertilization can be skipped in the summer if your area experiences a substantial rain. That extra water can wash away the fertilizer, and those chemicals can end up in your drinking supply.
Weeds can affect the health of your grass and plants. You will want to get rid of them before adding fertilizers to your yard. While fertilizers are created to boost the nutrients of your grass, these products can be harsh. When weeds are already stressing out the lawn, you dont want to add a product that can cause additional problems for the health of your grass.
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Managing Weeds In Lawns
- Identifying weeds and understanding why they’re growing where they are is key to controlling them.
- Try to tolerate a few weeds as long as your lawn is generally healthy.
- Some non-chemical cultural practices favor desirable grasses over weeds.
- If you do use chemicals, different lawn situations may need different types of herbicides.
- When using herbicides, follow the label directions exactly as printed on the product container.
A weed is described as “a plant out of place.” What may be a hated weed invader for some, might be a tolerable ground cover to someone else.
While sustainable lawns may have some weedy plants in them, having well-adapted grass varieties will help keep weeds to a minimum.
- A few weeds in a lawn are not a serious threat to lawn health.
- You can adjust cultural practices to keep plants healthy when controlling weeds with reduced or no use of herbicides.
- Find out the reasons behind increased weed growth before using an herbicide to kill weeds. Killing weeds without correcting underlying problems only invites continued and often increased weed invasion.
- Promote plant health to create a vigorous lawn that can prevent any serious weed problems from taking over.
- Knowing which weeds are invading your lawn is important when deciding whether or not control measures are needed and when they need to be carried out. It is also important in determining the most appropriate herbicide product to use, if needed.
These steps are one example of a simple weed control plan:
When Can You Spray Weeds In A Newly Seeded Lawn
New grasses are delicate and weak for the first few weeks. When one month passes, they start to become strong. You can use weed killers such as Tenacity, Quinclorac, etc., on the new grass after passing 28-30 days. However, applying weed killers after two-time mowing sessions is a solid rule of thumb.
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When To Use The Spray Weed Killer
The vast majority of available weed killers are absorbed by the weed leaves just after spraying, and then reach the rest of the plant. This destroys the whole weed along with its roots. In order for the preparation to be absorbed, the weeds must have formed enough leaves.
It is best to spray when the weeds have clearly formed 3-4 leaves each. It is also necessary to keep an adequate distance between spraying and mowing the grass. Never spray on the weeds just after mowing the lawn because the weed leaves are also mowed and the weed killer will not be absorbed. Dont mow immediately after spraying. Wait until the product is fully absorbed.
Can You Use Weed Killer Before Rain Is Due
Some weed killers can be applied prior to a downpour and some can not, depending on a few different factors. If choosing a product with a rainfast aspect to it, be aware that rainfast recommendations can vary between products.
Its best to monitor your local weather forecast and apply this kind of herbicide within the suggested timeframe. Confirming the active ingredient in your herbicide choice will also help to determine the best time. Keep reading for more information on each application type.
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Does Rain Stop Weed Killer From Working
Lets look at this a little closer. Grass can become wet for a variety of reasons, right? So, lets start with rain. Applying granular weed killers to lawns around the time it rains is actually good practice, as this facilitates absorption. A decent rainstorm would save you time and money.
The only time rain would stop granular options from working as expected is if theyre applied on a slope and heavy rain washes them away.
Alternatively, if the granules end up sitting on top of a dense lawn and not coming in contact with the soil. If this happens you will need to work the granules into thick grass not only so the herbicide gets through the grass, but also to prevent blade burn and therefore, achieve a better result.
Water-soluble options are already diluted for easy application. If applied just after a rainfall, further dilution may render the active ingredients ineffective. Most water-soluble options recommend applying before a rain with a minimum of 30 minutes drying time for it to remain rain-proof.
How To Apply Weed Killer
Even if you select the right weed killer, applying it incorrectly can make your efforts fruitless, and the wrong application can cause complications.
Many weed killers need to be diluted with water and put in a spray bottle. The products label will explain precisely how much water and weed killer youll need to combine. Some weed killers, however, come in granular form. Solid weed killers must be applied with a spreader.
When applying weed killer, timing is everything. You dont want to apply weed killer immediately after mowing your lawn since that could harm your tender grass. The same goes for fertilizer. In both cases, wait several days before applying weed killer.
The weather also plays a role in when to apply weed killer. Applying weed killer when its too hot can stress your grass, and applying it right too soon before it rains means it can wash away before it gets absorbed.
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Alternatives To Weed And Feed
The easiest alternative to applying weed and feed is to treat feeding and weed killing as two separate processes. Apply fertilizer at the time dictated by the kind of grass growing in your yard fall for cool-season grasses, late spring or early summer for warm-season grasses.
Treat for weeds at an appropriate time. If you genuinely think you have weed seeds all over your yard waiting to sprout, apply a pre-emergent over the entire yard in late winter before the seeds germinate. If youve applied pre-emergent in previous years and have your weeds under control, putting pre-emergent over the whole yard may be overkill. In that case, it makes more sense to see if any weeds do come up and spot-treat them with an appropriate herbicide based on whats growing in your yard.
A natural product called corn gluten meal, sometimes referred to by its initials, CGM, may offer some hope for an organic alternative to weed and feed. CGM is a byproduct that results from wet milling corn. An Iowa State University professor found that it reduces seed germination, and it has been patented for use as a natural pre-emergent agent. CGM is about 10% nitrogen, the main ingredient in most fertilizers, so its also a natural fertilizer.
But if a natural, organic weed and feed sounds too good to be true, it might be. There are several reasons why CGM hasnt become the go-to weed and feed product:
Best Value Weed Killer For Lawns
Ortho Weed B Gon concentrate is our top contender for its affordability and effectiveness at killing tough lawn weeds. It contains triclopyr, an active ingredient that works wonders on controlling Creeping Charlie, clover, plantain and more.
Use Weed B Gon with a tank sprayer or the Ortho Dial N Spray. When applied to actively growing weeds, it becomes rainproof after six hours. One 16-oz. container treats up to 3,200 square feet of lawn.
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Tips To Avoid Common Mistakes
Gardeners and planters should have knowledge about weed propagation. Ignorance of these things can even contribute to their increased spread. Weeds that propagate from seeds bloom in summer and sow an enormous amount of seeds. Pulling or cutting them out during the flowering period stimulates their growth. It contributes to even more abundant sowing. To avoid this problem:
Gently Rake In The Grass Seed
Raking is important as it helps the seeds come into contact with the soil to germinate properly. If you used a spreader or simply broadcast the seeds with your hand, the grass seed isnt in proper contact with the soil.
Lightly rake in the seed over the overseeded area to improve contact and promote faster germination. Raking will also prevent water from washing away seeds in your lawn when you irrigate.
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How To Use Weed Killer On Lawn
Using a rotary or drop spreader to administer granular weed killer is the best way to ensure a uniform distribution of the herbicides active ingredient. Spray the weed killer solution over the grass in an even layer after first thoroughly combining the powdered weed killer with water in the proportions specified on the products label.
Granular weed killers should be used to grass that is moist at the time of application, and the treated area should not be watered for forty-eight hours after the treatment has been administered.The fact that the grass is moist increases the likelihood that the granular weed killer will stuck to the leaf.If water is sprayed too quickly after the application of weed killer, it may wash away the chemical before it has a chance to be absorbed.
Trugreen: Our Top Lawn Care Company
House Method recommends TruGreen as a lawn care provider. TruGreen sends professionally trained service technicians to care for your lawn, starting with a Healthy Lawn Analysis® that will determine the health of your lawn. TruGreen will tailor a treatment plan that meets the needs of your lawn.
With over four decades of experience, TruGreen services more homes in America than any other lawn service provider.* The company also guarantees you a healthy lawn, and technicians will come back between scheduled visits as needed to ensure youre satisfied.
TruGreen offers three levels of service.
- TruHealthSM Lawn Plan is an excellent alternative to applying weed and feed because it focuses on correctly timed applications of fertilizer and weed control products. The plan also includes an application of lime, a soil amendment that improves the condition of your lawn.
- TruCompleteSM Lawn Plan includes fertilizing, weed control, lime application, and aeration, which reduces soil compaction and improves the health of the grass. The most popular among customers, this service plan includes all the treatments needed for a healthy lawn.
- TruSignatureSM Lawn Plan includes all the treatments for a healthy lawn and extends care to the trees and shrubs in your landscape. In addition to lawn-care visits, technicians will target the insects and diseases that can damage landscaping plants. This level is a great choice if you see your yard as an outdoor room for family fun and entertaining.
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How To Apply Liquid Weedkiller:
- Apply the liquid weed killers using a sprayer.
- Apply it on dry grass because wet grass will dilute your weed killers.
- Apply it in broad and sweeping motions in calm weather.
- Must avoid one or two sweeping to an isolated area.
- Avoid frost and freezing conditions.
- Apply lightly in low spots such as corners where runoff can accumulate to avoid plants and soil damage.
- Dont apply it only to the soil.
- Though it absorbs through the leaves of weeds, you have to ensure that the spray must contact the weeds for at least one or two days.
- Avoid when it is strong sunshine.
- Avoid mowing before application because it reduces the number of leaves that would absorb the herbicides.
Post-application strategy:
- Avoid mowing your lawn at least one week before the application because leaves absorb the weedkiller and need enough time.
- Hand-pull the weeds which can survive the weed killers with their roots.
- Dont force yourself to apply over these plants it is full of waste and failure of effort.
- After removing weeds, you can mow your lawn grass and notice that any kind of seeds can not spread.
- Ensure favorable conditions such as adequate sun, interrupted water supply, and proper mowing to ensure that the weed seeds can not grow up again.
How long for weed killer to work?
How often can you apply weed killer to your lawn?
How Long After Spraying Weeds Can I Water My Lawn
Granular weed killers should be applied when the grass is damp and left alone to work for a minimum of 48 hours before you water your lawn. Existing moisture will help the herbicide stick to the weeds. Watering too soon will only serve to wash it away.
Most liquid applications dont need to be watered in to activate. You can simply check the rainfast designation on the label to determine when to water. Or, a solid rule of thumb is to wait a full 24 hours before watering.
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How Do You Use Liquid Weed Killer
Utilize a high-quality sprayer for applying liquid weed killer. It is not recommended to use insecticides on plants that are currently under stress. After irrigating and watering for a period of three hours, apply the weed killer. In the event that the grass is in pristine condition, the treatment should be administered once every three years.
Should I Cut The Grass Before Applying Weed Killer
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the type of weed killer being used and the soil conditions. Generally speaking, if the weed killer is applied before the grass has a chance to grow, then it may not be effective. If however, the weed killer is applied after the grass has had a chance to grow, then it may be more effective.
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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.
How To Spread Weed & Feed
There are a few important details to remember when spreading weed & feed. Keep all of these in mind when planning the job to achieve the best results. Note that these tips are not intended to replace manufacturers instructions, though you will find most manufacturers will recommend some variation of these tips.
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