Pre-emergent Weed Control - What Is It & When Should You Apply It?

Weeds can cause a lot of problems for your lawn in Pennsylvania because they can drag down the curb appeal of your property and steal nutrients and other vital resources from your grass. The best way to deal with weeds is by preventing them from becoming a problem in the first place, and that's exactly what pre-emergent weed control is for. Pre-emergent weed control can create a barrier on your property that weeds can't penetrate, so they won't get a chance to sprout through your soil and populate your lawn. You should apply this type of weed control treatment in the early spring to get ahead of any weeds. While pre-emergent weed control is very effective, it doesn't work on weeds that are already past a certain point in their life cycle. To eliminate any existing weeds on your lawn, you should use post-emergent weed control treatments as needed. Continue reading this blog to learn more about pre-emergent weed control.

What is pre-emergent weed control, and how does it work?

Pre-emergent weed control is a type of weed control that is applied to the soil and is intended to prevent weeds from sprouting. This type of treatment will create a barrier on your lawn that newly germinated weeds can't penetrate. As a new weed seed germinates underground, it will start to grow upwards, but when it comes into contact with the pre-emergent barrier, it will be unable to get past it, so it will wither and die underground, never seeing the light of day!

When should you apply pre-emergent weed control?

The best time to apply pre-emergent weed control on your lawn is before weeds start to grow. Here in the Telford, PA, area, the best time to apply this treatment is in the early spring. That's because the spring season is the season of growth, and that goes for your grass, plants, and weeds! You'll want to apply a pre-emergent weed control in the early spring so that it will already be in place when weeds start to germinate! By applying this treatment early enough, you'll be able to stop a majority of weeds from sprouting on your lawn!

You can eliminate any existing weeds with post-emergent weed control treatments.

While pre-emergent weed control products are effective at preventing a lot of weeds from sprouting in the first place, they aren't effective against weeds that were already past a certain point in their life cycle when the treatment was applied. Luckily, you can eliminate existing weeds on your lawn with post-emergent weed control treatments. If you notice any weeds on your lawn after you've applied a pre-emergent treatment, you can spot-spray them with a post-emergent treatment. This type of treatment can be applied directly to the existing weed, and the herbicide will work its way down to the root of the weed and kill it from the ground up! By combining both pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments, you achieve a weed-free lawn throughout the year.