AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – Spring is the time of year when plants start showing their new life in gardens and lawns. Unfortunately, along with the new life of beautiful foliage, comes a common nuisance in lawns; weeds. However, homeowners do not have to suffer. Applying pre-emergent herbicides in a timely manner this spring can save lawns from these intruders.

Type of Herbicide

When selecting a pre-emergent herbicide, it is important to select one that will get the job done.

“Products with the active ingredients pendimethalin, prodiamine or dithiopyr are effective in controlling crab grass in warm season turf,” said Tim Crow, an Alabama Extension home grounds, gardens and pests regional agent.

While crab grass is the most common weed in lawns, these three ingredients also control a wide range of other weeds.

Timing is Important

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide in a timely manner is an important factor to controlling weeds. All weeds have a range in which plant germination begins, and applying the product before this is crucial.

Crab grass, for example, is a warm season annual weed and a heavy seeder. At the end of warm seasons and during winter, it disperses thousands of seeds into the ground. It then waits until the next warm season to plague a yard once again.

“Crab grass is the number one target weed for warm season turf grass in the South,” Crow said. “Depending on each particular spring, crab grass germination usually begins around late March and early April.”

He recommends that people start applying pre-emergent herbicides in mid-February, ensuring protection before the germination process begins.

It is easier to control weeds now rather than later. Post-emergent herbicides have a much more limited availability than pre- emergent herbicides do.

Other Lawn Practices

Crow said other practices, along with applying pre-emergent herbicides, can help keep a lawn weed free.

“Herbicides are a great weapon to have in our arsenal, but a healthy stand of turf is key for weed prevention,” he said.

Proper fertilization and diligent mowing practices promote a healthy lawn. If done properly, these practices will help ensure that weeds do not grow well in the yard.

Editor’s Note: If you don’t have the time, energy, tools or expertise to rid your lawn of weeds, consider hiring a professional lawn care service like TruGreen.

West Blocton Program March 17/More Info

For more information, visit www.aces.edu or make plans to bring a lunch and join us Tuesday, March 17 at 11:30am at the West Blocton Public Library, 109 Florida St., for the “Weed Control In the Landscape” Lunch and Learn.  This program is free but please call Bibb County Extension in advance at 205-926-4310 to register.