Winning the War on Weeds: Using Pre-Emergents to Kill Weeds

At Fox Hollow Landscaping & Design, we pride ourselves in creating beautiful spaces that help you enjoy being home. Our landscape design can turn a backyard into an oasis. As we move into spring, avid gardeners and lawn owners alike begin to worry about pesky weeds that seem to materialize from thin air. Instead of spending countless hours plucking weeds or spraying pesticides all across your lawn, think about pre-emergent herbicides, or pre-emergents to kill weeds. These preventative herbicides are incredibly effective and permanently eliminate weeds during each application.

How Pre-Emergents Can Help

Think this sounds too good to be true? Here are some facts about just what pre-emergents can help with as well as some tips to keep in mind when considering using this product.

1. As the name suggests, pre-emergents are only effective before weeds emerge from the ground because the seed is allowed to germinate and the young sprout is killed. The timing of the application is crucial. Apply pre-emergents in early spring before warm season weeds appear in order to be most effective. Depending on your climate, this can begin in early March or mid-March.

2. Pre-emergents are generally effective for 6 – 8 weeks. After that the protective barrier breaks down and the seeds are able to germinate again. Different types of weeds germinate at different times. Because of this, repeated applications of a pre-emergent can eliminate the majority of the weeds in any lawn. For long-season weed control, consider making a second pre-emergent application 7-8 weeks after the first.

3. As with any chemical or herbicide used in a garden, pre-emergents can harm desirable plants and grasses. Never use a pre-emergent with new grass seed or any other new plants.  It can burn and kill the new sprouts, and be sure to read what the active ingredients are before each application.

4. Most pre-emergents require watering in about ½ inch of irrigation in order to wash the material into the soil to reach the dormant seeds waiting to germinate.

It’s important to remember that pre-emergents prevent weeds from growing, but they also prevent grass seed from growing. For this reason, we recommend waiting 6-12 weeks after applying pre-emergents before re-seeding your lawn.

It’s Not Too Late to Kill Weeds

Do you think you’ve missed the window of opportunity to apply a pre-emergent? Not a concern at all; you can apply a post-emergent product in its place, which works by destroying the already germinated and established weeds. As a tip for next year, note when the weeds begin to sprout this year and count back a few weeks to determine when to apply a pre-emergent next year.

There are many different kinds of pre-emergent herbicides. Wondering which one would work best for you? Contact Fox Hollow Landscaping & Design so you can be assured that the right pre-emergent will be used so your yard will be beautiful and weed-free this year.