Preemergence weed control applications eliminate invasive plants before they begin to grow. Different weeds sprout and spread at different temperatures. Hence, it’s never too late for preemptive treatments to work in your favor. Just as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, a drop of preemergent treatment can be worth a tanker of spot treatments later on down the road.
Here are a few reasons April is a fine time to start pre-treating your weed problems:
Crabgrass
One of the most troublesome weeds in Georgia is common crabgrass. Regardless of the lawn type you have, you’ll wind up battling it at one time or another. This is the worst of the summer weeds. It can easily take over your lawn if you don’t work against it the first time you see its spiky blades infiltrating your yard. Unfortunately, most preemergents don’t treat crabgrass at all.
Most importantly, preemergent solutions be applied before ground temps allow seeds to germinate. For most summer weeds, that’s at 52 degrees F. In Georgia, that’s usually mid-March, though some years are colder longer than others. For crabgrass, however, that temperature is 50 degrees, and many times we’ve hit that already by the time February rolls around.
This is the reason homeowners pretreat their lawns and wind up frustrated when they still see a few blades — a few. Seeds don’t all germinate at the same time. So, the pretreatments do work to provide protection past February and even past April 1st.
Henbit
Soft green with small purple flowers, henbit is one of those weeds that people don’t always worry about at first glance. They think it’s a pretty native flower. However, it is an invasive species that can wipe out your lawn and change your smooth yard into a bumpy, rough mess.
Thankfully, preemergent treatments prevent this winter weed from taking root at all. Treat it before it bursts from the soil, and you’ll never have to haggle with the kids or the wife or the neighbors over how beautiful it looks… or how they read you can use it in salads.
Chickweed
Sometimes called a “creeper,” chickweed has a wiry, twisting vine that spreads out quickly, capable of overtaking your yard in just a few months. Its light green leaves and small white flowers are a sharp contrast to the fescue lawns of the South. Pre-emergent treatments should be applied by September to take care of this problem before it starts.
Bluegrass
Whole tomes have been written on the rivalry between lawn manicurists and this nefarious winter weed. Why? It doesn’t just look unsightly or affect the tidiness of your lawn. Bluegrass sweeps in and flourishes during the cold months when your grass is too weak to fight off an attack. Once summer begins, it dies out and leaves you with a brown, bald lawn.
For homeowners who don’t want to risk having to lay down new sod, preemergent is an important tool capable of solving your problems with the least investment.
Are you in need of lawn care in Hendersonville, TN? For expert preemergence weed control advice and a gorgeous lawn without the sweat, please call our Nashville lawn care office at (615) 439-3113.
