What does the term "pre-emergent weed control" refer to? Basically, it means "weed prevention." It refers to a method for preventing weeds by way of killing weed seeds and seedlings before they can germinate or establish themselves. To accomplish this, there are pre-emergent weed control products you can use to kill weed seeds before or as they try to sprout. Pre-emergent weed control can tremendously cut down on the need for mixing and spraying other chemicals to kill weeds post-emergently, after they have sprouted.
Basically, there are two places in the landscape we want to control weeds:
- In the lawn
- In landscaped beds and islands.
There are pre-emergent weed control products designed and available for both areas.
Pre-emergent Weed Control in the Lawn
What is the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control in the lawn? Because weed seeds literally fly in with wind at all times of year, pre-emergent weed control can be done at anytime of year using a pre-emergent weed control product. That being said, there are times during the year, such as early spring and early fall, that greater numbers of various types of weed seeds germinate.
In the South, we have two categories of weeds:
- Warm Season Weeds: These grow during spring and summer and their seeds germinate in late winter to early spring.
- Cool Season Weeds: These weeds, such as poa annua and henbit, grow during the winter months and their seeds germinate in early to late fall.
So, in the South, the best time to broadcast a lawn weed preventer product is late winter to early spring, and again in early fall.
What is the best pre-emergent weed control to use on my lawn?
This depends on your location and what's available at local nursery and garden centers in your area. Most garden centers offer two options for lawn weed prevention:
- Products containing weed preventer only
- Products containing both fertilizer and weed preventer. Many nursery and garden centers offer step-by-step, do-it-yourself lawn fertilization and weed control programs. These are very easy to follow and are precisely timed to get the best results.
Check with your local nursery and garden center professional to see what products he or she recommends and stocks for weed prevention in the lawn.
Pre-emergent Weed Control in Landscaped Beds and Islands
Landscaped beds and islands are non-lawn areas where shrubs, trees, groundcovers and other types of plants have been arranged together in a "bed.' Some type of mulch is usually used to cover areas between plants in landscape beds and islands.
What is the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control to landscaped beds and islands?
You can apply pre-emergent weed control products, such as Treflan Granules, any time of year. Treflan is a pre-emergent weed control product that can provide up to a full year of weed control. So, the best time to broadcast Treflan Granules would be in late winter or early spring: before all of the warm season weed seeds begin to germinate (sprout). That being said, weeds blow in with the wind year round, so, if you're reading this article in late spring, it's never too late to get a pre-emergent on the ground!
There are several other products, such as Dimension, which are good for pre-emergent weed control in landscaped beds and islands. Check with your local nursery and garden center to see what products they stock and recommend for your area.
