Why is Pre-Emergent so IMPORTANT in January?

Sunday, 31 December 2023

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There can be many reasons for a weedy lawn:

Weeds are common in unhealthy soil,
Thin turf is an invitation for weeds to fill in the voids,
Weeds thrive in compacted soils,
Drought-stressed lawns are a favorite target for weeds,
…and the list goes on and on and on….

BUT, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR HIGHER WEED PRESENCE IS FAILURE TO APPLY A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE OR FAILURE TO APPLY AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE EARLY SPRING PRE-EMERGENT APPLICATION (ROUND 1) IS THE FIRST STEP, AND A CRITICAL STEP, IN GROWING A WEED-FREE, HEALTHY LAWN THIS YEAR.

Turf Worx+ applies applications containing our mixture of Spring Pre-Emergents to lawns first thing every year making sure all our customers receive the critical first steps in weed prevention at the right time.

Year-round we field a lot of questions about the best way to have a weed-free, healthy lawn.

When do we get most questions about weeds? You are right, after a lawn is covered with weeds – when it is hard to gain control without causing damage to the turf.

The right time to have a conversation about weeds is before they germinate. Prevention of weeds is much easier and healthier than trying to kill them all later.

Let's cover a few key questions about weed prevention:

-WHY ARE SPRING PRE-EMERGENTS SO CRITICAL?

Summer annual weeds come up every year. An annual weed grows, reseeds, and dies all in one year. There are both grassy and broadleaf annual weeds. A quality pre-emergent herbicide will prevent a great many of these weeds.

The most aggressive annual grassy weed is crabgrass.

If you had a single crabgrass plant in your lawn last year, or your neighbor's lawn had crabgrass, or your neighbor's neighbors had crabgrass, there is a 100% chance you will have crabgrass this summer if you DO NOT apply a pre-emergent to your lawn this spring.

Dallisgrass is often confused with crabgrass during the summer. Dallisgrass goes dormant in the winter but the rhizomes stay alive. The first application of the year as a good time to gain control and reduce the spread of this difficult weed.

A weed free lawn this summer starts with a pre-emergent application before the end of February.

-WHY AM I SO SURE YOU WILL HAVE CRABGRASS IF YOU SKIP THE SPRING PRE-EMERGENT APPLICATIONS?

A single crabgrass plant produces thousands of seeds. Because crabgrass is so prolific, even the nicest lawn in your neighborhood last summer can be full of crabgrass this summer if a pre-emergent is not applied this year.

Because crabgrass is an annual grassy weed, without a spring pre-emergent even the best lawns will have crabgrass this summer.

Because crabgrass is fast growing and spreads quickly, it can have a dominant presence in your lawn by May without a spring pre-emergent.

-WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR THE FIRST LAWN CARE APPLICATION?

With thousands of seeds lying dormant in the soil, as soon as conditions are right, germination will begin. Germination of crabgrass can occur as early as mid-March in North Alabma.

The key determinant is soil temperature. When soil temperatures consistently reach 55 degrees germination occurs.

Between now and early March soil temperatures will go up and down, gradually creeping up until they reach the right temperature for summer weed germination.

-WILL ONE PRE-EMERGENT APPLICATION PER YEAR BE ENOUGH?

Turf Worx+ provides the maximum amount, spread over two treatments as recommended by the label for the most effective and longest lasting results.

DOES A PRE-EMERGENT NEED TO BE APPLIED AS A LIQUID OR CAN IT BE SPREAD AS A GRANULAR?

Pre-emergent herbicides come in both forms and either is effective as long as the product is applied evenly creating continuous weed barrier. Watering the product into the root zone is important. Always follow instructions left on your door anytime an application is made to your lawn.