With spring less than 20 days away, now is the time that we begin to think about opening up the shed, pulling out the tools, and getting our lawns ready for the growing season. The upcoming arrival of spring also means it’s nearly time for one of the most important lawn maintenance tasks of the year: early spring weed control.
Once weeds get a foothold in your lawn, they will steal important nutrients (water and sunlight, mainly) from the grass. This competition for nutrients and space will ultimately leave your grass hungry, weak, and prone to drought and disease. The key to preventing this is by attacking the weeds before they pop up. Here is a guide to early spring weed control, and some tips to help you get a leg up over those pesky weeds this spring:
Timing Is Everything
When the soil temperature has reached 50 degrees or higher, weeds will start germinating. Once the temperature has stayed around the 50-55 degree range for at least one week, weeds will slowly begin to emerge from the soil. In Michigan, this usually occurs around late March or early April. Monitoring your soil temperature will allow you to be prepared to take the proper steps at the proper time to beat the weeds before they have a chance to grow.
Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Applying a Pre-emergent herbicide is a method of preventative weed control that should be performed early into the spring season. It produces a chemical coating that layers the soil, preventing seeds from germinating, and weeds from growing. When it comes to applying pre-emergent herbicides, timing is everything! As mentioned above, you want to wait until the soil temperature has hit at least 50 degrees before applying. But don’t wait too long! Pre-emergent herbicides will not have any effect on weeds after they have begun growing.
Mow High, and Mow Often
Weeds need two things to grow, water and sunlight. When the weather warms up and the grass starts growing, raise your mower height. This will allow the grass to grow tall and strong, blocking the sunlight from getting to the weeds. Also, mowing once a week will also allow you to cut down any weeds that have peeked through the grass. Simply put, the stronger the grass, the harder it is for the weeds. It’s simple, natural weed control!
Call The Experts In Weed Control
If you’re looking for the best in early spring weed control, look no further than Custom Personalized Lawn Care. Our certified specialists will examine your lawn to determine the best course of action to not only eliminate, but also prevent weeds from taking over your lawn.
Through our custom lawn and weed control program , we can help you take control of your yard and deal with those pesky weeds once and for all. Give us a call today at (800) 570-3313 to hear more!
