The time to prevent weeds in your lawn is now! Putting down a pre-emergent in early Spring will save you a lot of work, time, and money in a few months when the weather begins to warm up.
What Is a Pre-Emergent?
A pre-emergent is a type of fertilizer specifically designed to prevent weeds from growing in your lawn, more specifically targeting stubborn weeds such as crabgrass. When watered in, the pre-emergent creates a barrier that deters many weeds from establishing themselves in the first place.
Why Should You Apply a Pre-Emergent?
This proactive approach not only saves you time and money since you won’t have to combat as many weeds when the weather warms up, but it also contributes to the overall health and vitality of your lawn. With fewer weeds competing for resources, your grass has improved access to essential nutrients, water, and sunlight, promoting a thicker and more lush lawn. Any that do manage to breach the pre-emergent barrier can easily be spot-sprayed or hand-pulled, ensuring that you maintain control over your lawn’s appearance without the added hassle of intensive weed management.
When Should You Apply a Pre-Emergent?
The best time to apply a pre-emergent to your lawn is now, in early Spring when temperatures are still cool and the soil temperature is approaching 50-55°F. Another tell-tale sign of the right time to apply pre-emergent is the yellow forsythia bush. When this plant is blooming in your area, you’re in the window to apply pre-emergent.
Where To Find Pre-Emergent Fertilizer
There are a few types of pre-emergents available but I’ll keep it short to 2: pre-emergent with fertilizer to feed the lawn, and pre-emergent without fertilizer. I’ve used both and the main thing to think about is whether or not you want to mow your lawn more frequently, which also means, it will have a deeper looking color and will establish faster. A good option to prevent weeds and feed the lawn readily available at big box stores is Scott’s Fertilizer with Crabgrass Preventer. If you would rather apply pre-emergent only, Lesco 0-0-7 is a good option as well.
How Much To Apply
To know how much of each to apply to your specific lawn, take the weight of the bag and divide it by the square footage. So if the bag weighs 10 lbs and covers 5,000, then 10/5=2lbs, so 2lbs per 1,000 square feet of your lawn. If you want more information about knowing how much fertilizer to apply to your lawn, you can read it here.
