Everything You Need to Know About Preemergent!

When we get into the mid to late winter, we should consider our spring prep for our properties. 

Most people start planning their lawn care and landscaping services but sometimes forget about their lawn treatment. 

Preemergent can be a beneficial and essential service for your property, so let’s dig deeper into preemergents. 

What is preemergent?

Preemergent is a type of herbicide. It is a form of weed killer or weed control that stops weeds at their seedling or germination stage so that they cannot grow on your property. 

Preemergent herbicide is specifically designed to take over and control weed seeds. Preemergent gets its name because it explicitly targets weeds that have not emerged from the soil yet. 

In some cases, preemergent is also used to prevent crabgrass from growing on lawns as part of your lawn care routine. 

When should I apply my preemergent?

Preemergent should be applied to your property during the late winter season or the beginning of spring. Weed treatments can then be applied again during the fall season. These times of year are when preemergent is most effective as its role is to stop weed seeds at their sprouting stage. 

Can preemergent be used in a garden?

Preemergent can be used in a garden. However, it must be a type of treatment specifically designed for vegetables if that is what you are growing. Not getting the correct weed treatment can kill your vegetable seeds and seedlings. 

When you use the preemergent specific for a garden, it will ensure the seeds you want to grow will grow and prevent unwanted seeds from sprouting. 

Does preemergent work?

If appropriately used, preemergents are extremely effective herbicides. Preemergent is easy to apply and saves a ton of stress and work later in the season. However, there is a possibility that some weeds will grow on your property after you apply your preemergent. 

How long does preemergent last?

Applying preemergent in the late winter and early spring is recommended for a reason! It is to get the best results possible. There are different types of preemergent on the market, so expect any treatment to last around three to five months.  

What are the different types of preemergent?

There are a few different types of preemergent on the market today. Preemergent herbicides are split into two main categories called granular and liquid. However, within those main categories, there are sub-categories. In addition, you can see preemergent under other categories such as synthetic, organic, non-selective (deterring all kinds of weeds), and selective (targets a specific weed). 

Granular Preemergent Herbicide

Granular preemergents are designed to control weeds from emerging on your landscape. They focus on the weeds that have not sprung up on your landscape yet. 

Using granular preemergent allows you to use it in small amounts, making it best for turfgrasses, ornament beds, landscapes, and some lawns. It is usually distributed through a machine for precision. 

Liquid Preemergent Herbicide

Liquid preemergent can be found in full-strength or concentrated and is in liquid form. It is usually applied in a pump-type sprayer and works well for treating lawns. Liquid preemergent is easy to apply and targets crabgrass and other weeds that might attack your lawn. The liquid herbicide dissolves into the soil after water and forms a barrier to fight and block weed germination. 

It is said that liquid preemergent is better than granular. People prefer liquid because it requires less water and has better distribution than granular preemergent. 

Synthetic Preemergent Herbicide

Synthetic preemergents are lab-created and have a lot of chemicals in them. They are often used for brush control and perennial broadleaf weed as the synthetic preemergent herbicides have the more effective chemicals to target those specific weeds. 

Synthetic preemergent herbicide is mainly used when you need immediate results as it has high-efficiency rates. It is said that synthetic preemergent herbicide controls eighty percent of crabgrass on the first application and gets to a rate of ninety-five percent when used on thick lawns. Of course, its efficiency is based on proper care and practice!

Organic Preemergent Herbicide

Organic preemergent is made from chemicals that occur in nature naturally. Organic herbicides are usually broken down quicker and leave residual effects because they have low toxicity levels. Organic preemergent is often used during rainy seasons and once spring has arrived because that usually brings about the growth of unwanted weeds or plants. 

Corn gluten was become the most common form of organic herbicide and is used to control crabgrass and other weeds in lawns. 

Non-selective Preemergent Herbicide

Non-selective preemergent means killing or getting rid of all seeds from any plant and preventing anything from growing, including vegetation. Any green plant that the preemergent encounters will be injured or killed. This type of preemergent herbicide not only kills all weeds, plants, and potentially pests but will harm all organisms as well. 

Non-selective preemergent is most often used as a “fresh start” or used to target a specific area of your property that you want to redo from scratch since all the plant life on your property will be killed. 

Selective Preemergent Herbicide

As you may guess from its name, the selective preemergent herbicide is used to target specific or selective plants or weeds. It is usually applied to lawns before weeds get the chance to grow or appear in hopes of stopping them from emerging or germinating. 

Selective preemergent only targets specific weeds and not all weeds, so you must do your research or read the label before purchasing the product to ensure it is helping you get rid of the weeds specific to your property. 

Why should I use professionals to apply my preemergent?

There is so much information and knowledge that goes into preemergents. It requires weed identification, specific areas of your property, and multiple options to choose from. 

All of this is overwhelming, even for those who know what they are doing. However, professionals can help you with the correct preemergent for your property’s needs. It is the time of year to apply preemergents for your spring prep, so make sure you contact professionals today! 

If you are a resident of Muhlenberg County, KY, you can get your preemergents applied by the professionals at Perfection Lawn and Landscapes. We are friendly professionals!