The best weed control in a lawn is to create a thick, dense turf that naturally outcompetes and prevents weed invasion. There are many steps involved, including proper fertilization, irrigation, species selection, mowing and cultivation. Another useful tool is the use of herbicides.
Pre is For Prevention
Preemergence herbicides kill very young weed seedlings soon after they grow a root and before they begin growth above the soil line. So, technically, they don’t kill weed seeds, they kill tiny plants before they become visible in the lawn. And, as they say in football, the best defense is a good offense, so intervening early on in a weed’s life is an effective control step for many weeds such as crabgrass, foxtail and prostrate spurge; these species are good examples of warm season annuals which are best prevented by applications in early to mid-April when soil temperatures are consistently in the mid 50’s. Winter annuals such as shepherd’s purse, henbit and speedwell are best controlled in mid-October. Dithiopyr, pendimethalin and prodiamine are common active ingredients utilized for preemergence weed control.
Post is For the Escapes
If healthy turf growth and the use of a preemergence herbicide fail to keep weeds from becoming established in a lawn, another option for control is the use of a postemergence product. Dandelions, white clover and plantain are the classic weeds controlled by postemergence products. While these are commonly highly visible in spring and summer, they are quite difficult to control with herbicides then. At this point in the season, hand removal with a trowel or dandelion digger is more effective than herbicide applications. Post emergence products such as Trimec, Weed Free Zone and Speedzone are most effective in late September and early October.
Herbicide Safety
Any pest control product – herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, disinfectants – must be used safely and in strict accordance with the product label. In addition to safety instructions, most herbicide labels provide all sorts of helpful information such as timing, rates, target weeds, drift reduction techniques, disposal guidelines and specific sites where the product can and can’t be used. Even though the print/font may be small, they contain lots of very pertinent facts, figures and reference material for your benefit.
Protective Equipment
Before Covid 19, many people (other than medical professionals) hadn’t heard of personal protective equipment (PPE). Now, most are quite aware and have used some pieces such as face masks and gloves to reduce risks to their health. When it comes to protecting your health during the application of herbicides, it’s very important to read the product label to learn which pieces of PPE are required during application. Commonly, these include long pants, non-leather shoes/boots, nitrile or butyl rubber gloves, plastic eyewear and long sleeve shirts. During the mixing of a concentrate into a sprayer or loading granules into a spreader, a rubber apron is also a good piece of PPE to wear.
