| All weeds can be grouped according
to their life cycle —
either annuals or perennials, or according to their morphology-either broadleaf or grassy.
Not to be too technical, but that's important to understand when attempting to control weeds.
For example, we apply a pre-emergent herbicide before annual weeds germinate in order to stop them before they even get to the seedling stage. This is the best way to control annual weeds. LawnAmerica applies an early spring pre-emergent to prevent summer annuals such as crabgrass from germinating, and a fall pre-emergent to prevent winter annuals such as henbit from germinating.
A pre-emergent will not do anything for a perennial weed though, such as dallisgrass. Therefore, a post-emergent herbicide needs to be applied while the weed is actively growing to control it. Broadleaf and grassy weeds are different, so they require different types of post-emergent herbicides to control them.
The professionals at LawnAmerica know all this technical stuff and more. I know— you just want your weeds dead! But in order to help us with our weed-control, you can do some things to really help us achieve what we both want-a thick, green, weed-free lawn.
Water in pre-emergent treatments within 3-5 days.
Pre-emergent needs to be activated into the soil in order to be effective.
Maintain proper soil nutrition.
The best defense against weeds is a thick, healthy, well-fertilized turf.
Don't mow right after a weed-control application
Mowing can take off much of the weed surface and not allow the post-emergent herbicide enough time to move down into the root system for complete control.
Don't water too soon after a weed-control application.
Irrigation within about 8 hours of a post-emergent herbicide treatment can also decrease the effectiveness of the treatment if not enough product has been absorbed by the weeds.
Water your lawn well.
If turf is allowed to thin out due to lack of adequate soil moisture, weeds can invade those thin areas. Also, weeds will die out sooner with adequate soil moisture.
Allow difficult to control weeds to grow tall before our summer treatments.
If your lawn has just been mowed the day we spray for certain weeds such as nutgrass, we may not even be able to see the weeds, or have enough weed surface for the herbicide to adhere to. It’s best to allow these weeds to grow up high, so that they are easier to spot and with plenty of weed surface to absorb the herbicide. You can then mow 1-2 days later.
Be Patient
Existing weeds take time to totally die and decompose. When temperatures are cooler early in the season, it may take several weeks for weeds to completely die. As temperatures warm up later in spring, not only will weeds die out quicker, but existing grass will be green and growing which will help choke out dying weeds.
When you have too many weeds in between treatments-CALL US!
Service calls are free if needed in between treatments, as long as it's been fewer than 30 days since your last treatment. We don't mind coming out to spot treat weed, because sometimes that will be necessary.
Links for more information:
Weed Alert
http://weedalert.com/
Virginia Tech University Weed Guide
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/
Ohio State University Weed Guide
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/
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