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Alternative EarthCare discusses Pre-Emergence and why it is so important in the Spring !!!
Long Island March 5, 2018
Pre-emergence helps to control invasive crabgrass before it takes hold in the growing season and becomes a real eyesore. These herbicides should be applied in early spring to prevent crabgrass seeds from sprouting into fresh growth. On an average, pre-emergent crabgrass herbicides will remain potent in the soil for up to eight weeks and are most effective when addressing fresh crabgrass seeds and sprouts. More mature vegetation usually requires multiple treatments throughout the season. This makes it vital to address in the spring season before the pesky weeds have begun to mature and spread.
As a rule of thumb, property owners should fertilize and aerate lawns once the temperature is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and before any pre-emergent applications take place so as not to disturb the soil or negatively impact the effect of the herbicides. Apply pre-emergent herbicides when temperatures are around 55-58 degrees Fahrenheit and ensure that the treated areas are well-watered. Wait at least one-two weeks before any soil tilling, over-seeding the lawn with new grass, or otherwise disturbing the soil. Pre-emergent needs to remain undisturbed to be most effective, which is another good reason to apply early in the spring before lawns start to see more foot traffic in the warm weather.
Pre-emergent herbicides should be addressed with consideration to other spring landscaping tasks, such as over-seeding. Applying crab-grass-killing herbicides too soon before or after processes such as over-seeding can result in desired vegetation growth being stunted. By late winter, homeowners should be planning their spring task schedule to ensure that steps such as pre-emergent application, fertilization, aeration, and over-seeding, are scheduled to be spread out enough and take place early enough in the season to be effective. Utilizing a professional service will help to ensure that the proper timeline is adhered to, chemicals and nutrients are balanced, and that the soil is receiving the proper treatments for its condition.
