Weed Prevention using Pre-Emergent Herbicides

A guide to when to apply pre-emergent herbicides

What Are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?

When to Apply Pre-Emergent

Pre-Emergent Herbicide Guide

Pre-Emergent Herbicides

• Spring Herbicide Application
• Fall Herbicide Application

Pre-emergent herbicides, sometimes referred to as crabgrass preventives, are effective ways to prevent an undesired weed problem before it starts. This article explains pre-emergent herbicides, and when to apply them.

What are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?

Pre-emergent herbicides are chemicals that prevent undesired weeds in your lawn. They do not prevent the germination of the seed, but help control it so that it will not sprout. Due to the way these herbicides work, application timing is the most important aspect of weed prevention success. If the weed has already sprouted and is visible, pre-emergent herbicides will not solve the weed problem. For a summary of pre-emergent active ingredients, go to Pre-emergent Herbicides

There are a few exceptions because some chemicals include active ingredients that work as both post (after the weed sprouts) and pre-emergent herbicides such as Dithiopyr products.

When to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides?

Early Spring and Fall are the most effective times to apply pre-emergent herbicides. They can be applied throughout the year, and will still prevent new weeds that sprout, however most weeds sprout during spring and fall. Spring applications target different weed species than Fall applications, so it is very important to know the type of weed you are trying to prevent for best results. See below for help identifying your target weeds.

Spring Herbicide Application

Spring pre-emergent herbicide applications are used to prevent summer annual weeds. Summer annual weeds are both grassy and broad leaf types. For best results apply herbicides when the soil temperature is around 55 degrees or above for at least 36 to 72 hours (ideally this will be two weeks before seed germination). The majority of the USA experiences these soil temperatures from March to April. Consult your local county extension service to get up to date soil temperatures in your area. Here is a map that gives a good idea of when to apply in the part of the country you live in.

Using granules or liquid formulations are the two primary manners to apply herbicides. If you use granular pre-emergent herbicide it is very important to water the chemical into the ground because the active ingredient needs to penetrate the soil. The herbicide is trapped by the granule until it is activated by water. This is also true with liquid pre-emergent products because grass and other plants may trap the active ingredient keeping it from reaching the soil during the initial application.

Key Takeaway

Preventing weeds like crabgrass and annual bluegrass is far easier than killing them once they are established.

Common Annual Summer Grassy Weeds
Crabgrass
Goosegrass

• Barnyardgrass
• Sandbur
• Foxtail

Crabgrass Control Products

(Crabgrass Pictures-NY State IPM Program)

Common Annual Summer Broadleaf Weed

• Clover
• Carpetweed
• Black Medic
• Spurge
• Knotweed
• Ragweed

Common Annual Summer Grassy Weeds & Common Annual Summer Broadleaf Weed

Fall Herbicide Application

Fall pre-emergent applications are designed to prevent winter annual weeds. These weeds germinate during the fall months. Similar to spring applications, timing is very important to successfully prevent winter annual weeds from taking over your lawn. The best time to apply fall pre-emergent herbicides is late summer to early fall depending on your geographic location.

Annual Bluegrass (Poa Annua) is one of the most common winter annual weeds. Annual Bluegrass is a hardy weed, and may require multiple applications over consecutive seasons to achieve an acceptable level of control. Fall weeds being to germinate when soil temperatures starts to dip below 70 degrees (soil temperatures about 50 degrees). The best time to apply is the when the daytime highs drop to the mid-70s for about three to five days in a row.

Since a pre-emergent application will not last through the following summer, make a pre-emergent application late spring or early summer (see Spring Herbicide Application map).

Common Winter Annual Weeds

• Poa Annua (Annual Bluegrass)
• Common Chickweed
• Prickley Lettuce
• Grassy Weed Control

Pre-Emergent Product Recommendations

• Hi-Yield Weed and Grass Stopper-This granulated per-emergent is handy when you don’t want to spray, and prefer to use a spreader.Cool-season Grasses: 2.4 – 9.2 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft Warm-season Grasses: 3.5 – 9.2 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
• Prodiamine 65 WDG-Prodiamine 65 WDG is the most economical way to cover a large area. Use 1 to 2.25 tablespoons per 1000 square feet.
• Agrisel Pendi Hydrocap-Works the same way as Prodiamine 65 WDG, but can be bought in smaller units, covering a smaller area. For turfgrass applications (cool season and warm season grasses) apply 1.1 to 1.6 oz. per 1000 sq. ft.
• Dimension 2 EW Dimension 2 EW with Dithiopyr is a pre-emergent with some post-emergent activity for crabgrass (if you catch the crabgrass growth within 10-14 days after sprouting). Use 0.50 to 0.73 ounces in a minimum of 1 gallon of water per 1000 square feet.
• Dithiopyr 40 WSB-Is another Dithiopyr product, but more economical. Up 20 oz per acre; 0.46 oz per 1,000 square feet. This is a good choice for 25 or larger spray tanks.
• *Click on the products below to view rates and tolerant turfgrass usage.

Written by our resident pest control expert Ken Martin.