When to apply pre-emergent herbicides
check_ux_article_product

When to apply pre-emergent herbicides

Rather than waiting until weeds appear in your lawn and before you decide what to do about them, it’s usually best to plan how you’ll manage them ahead of time.

Think prevention rather than eradication. Having a good weed control strategy has benefits: it means less work for you and a much better result in both the short and long term.

Pre-emergent herbicides play an important role in this strategy by allowing you to interrupt the vicious cycle of weed growth, flowering, producing seed and having even more weeds turn-up the following year. They can be effective on both broadleaf and grass weeds.

How pre-emergent herbicides work

As the name suggests, pre-emergent herbicides are applied before weeds start growing.

They don’t stop weed seeds from germinating but target the new plants when they’re at their most vulnerable – as tiny sprouts reaching up towards the surface.

The active ingredients can inhibit cell division in the seeds, prevent root growth or affect enzymes that are essential for plant growth.

Pre-emergent herbicides won’t knock down existing weeds or sterilise weed seeds that are already present.

For this reason, it’s best to start by thoroughly removing those weeds before adding pre-emergents to your regular lawn care routine.

Pre-emergents have a residual effect that can last for about three months. This is long enough to combat most of the weeds that will develop during the season.

Types of pre-emergent herbicide

Pre-emergent herbicides are available in two main types: granular and liquid.

Granular herbicides applied with a hand spreader are easier to use than liquid forms which must be carefully mixed at the correct rates before spraying.

Whichever type you choose, it must be thoroughly watered in to ensure it creates an effective barrier in the soil.

Some products, commonly known as weed and feed products, also contain fertiliser to encourage vigorous growth in your lawn and help it outcompete any weeds.

Remember that not all pre-emergents will work against all weeds. Selective herbicides will target only specific weeds so make sure you understand which weeds you want to tackle and check that they’re listed on the product label.

When you’re reading the label, make sure the product is suitable for use on your grass type.

Always read the safety directions and instructions on the product label before use. Wear safety glasses and gloves to avoid irritation from skin and eye contact.

When to apply pre-emergent herbicide

Timing depends on which weeds you need to target.

If the problem weeds are most common in summer, the best time to apply a pre-emergent will be in spring. If you struggle with winter weeds, the best time will be autumn.

Winter is a good time to get on top of the onslaught of weeds such as Nut Grass, with a good pre-emergent selective herbicide. Over a 12-week period you can do 2-3 applications to ensure your lawn is 100% “clean” of weeds for spring.

Pre-emergent herbicides are broken down by exposure to sunlight and the actions of soil microbes, so applying the herbicide too early will reduce how long it will be effective during periods of active weed growth.

Monitoring soil temperatures can be helpful for deciding whether to put it out early, mid or late in the season.

Depending on where you live, soil temperature information is available from the Bureau of Meteorology website, but measuring temperatures in your own yard will be more accurate. Simple gauges, often labeled propagation or soil thermometers, can be bought online or at your local garden centre.

As well as indicating the best timing for weed control, soil temperatures can be useful for being proactive against insects and fungal diseases, especially those that affect the roots.

As an example, Winter Grass (Poa annua) starts germinating in autumn when soils cool down to 21 degrees Celsius.

By contrast, the Digitaria species of grasses commonly known as Crab Grass, Finger Grass and Fonio begin germinating in spring when temperatures rise to 12-15 degrees, and Crowsfoot Grass (Eleusine indica) seeds start at 16-18 degrees.

Recommended Products

There are several pre-emergent herbicides available in the myhomeTURF online shop.

Oxafert 20kg

Farmalinx Oxafert 20kg is a combined fertiliser and pre-emergent herbicide that targets Summer Grass, Crowsfoot Grass, Winter Grass and broadleaf weeds such as Bindii, Wireweed and Creeping Oxalis. It is suitable for use on Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo lawns, but should not be used on recently-laid turf.

SHOP NOW

Spartan 500mL

Turf Culture Spartan 500ml offers up to six months’ control of Crowsfoot Grass, Summer Grass, Winter Grass, Paspalum and other grassy weeds. It is suitable for use on established Zoysia, Kikuyu, Couch and Buffalo lawns.

SHOP NOW

Free Lawn Guide

Sign up for our Newsletter to receive your free guide.

View our Privacy policy
Weeds

Related Articles

When it’s too Hot to Mow Your Lawn!

A healthy lawn provides you and your family with a green, lush and welcoming environment. However, when temperatures rise and the harsh summer sun beats down on your lawn, the ...

Read More

What are Perennial Weeds?

Perennial Weeds are longer lived plants that can survive winter or regrow from roots, rhizomes or tubers in spring after a period of dormancy. Many weeds that grow from seed ...

Read More

What Are Annual Weeds?

Annual weeds are relatively short-lived plants that grow from seeds produced in the previous year. Their life cycle is usually restricted to one season during which they grow, ...

Read More

How to Remove Fleabane Weed from Your Lawn

A member of the daisy family, there are two main types of Fleabane weeds: Flaxleaf Fleabane and Tall Fleabane. They’re known by many different names, including Asthma Weed and ...

Read More

Your Guide to Lawn Weed Removal

A well-fed, healthy lawn that is regularly mowed at the correct height will be able to resist invasion by most weeds. Unfortunately, you can’t always control what happens ...

Read More

All You Need to Know about Pulling Weeds from Your Lawn

Weed control methods can be limited in some types of lawn. Soft Leaf Buffalo is more sensitive to a range of herbicides than other grasses, and new lawns are more vulnerable ...

Read More

Weed Pullers and Weed Wands: What Are They?

Weeds are a lawn lover’s worst nightmare. They can sneak in when you least expect it and left unchecked can quickly take over your pride and joy. This is where weed pullers ...

Read More

How to Keep Your Grass Green Year Round

There’s nothing quite like a healthy green lawn for lifting the spirits. Indeed, research has found people who are more connected with nature, which includes parks and gardens ...

Read More

6 Ways to Protect Your Lawn from Chickens

There’s something comforting about having your own chooks even if you don’t live on a farm. They make good use of kitchen scraps, eat bugs and weeds, provide free manure for ...

Read More

Lawn Paint – Is It Good or Bad for Your Lawn?

We’ve all seen them: lawns that usually lose their colour in winter or summer suddenly become an abnormally bright green once the ‘For Sale’ sign is hammered into place. The ...

Read More