When Is The Best Time To Spray Weeds In The Lawn?

Taming a lawn full of weeds might feel daunting, but it is all about keeping your turf as healthy as can be. Even though we consider weeds a nuisance, they are plants just like grass, flowers, or shrubs! That means they’ll grow just as thick and rampant as our lawn if we let them.

If you’re struggling with weed invasions in your garden, flower bed, or lawn, then you’re not alone. Weed invasion is one big challenge for gardeners everywhere. Using manual and cultural practices, such as tilling and appropriate fertilization and irrigation, can help you control weeds.

However, some individuals opt to spray weed killers directly on their lawn for an effective result.

If you go the chemical route of using herbicides, sprinkling them on your weeds at the right time can help maximize your success in the weed war. Much of it depends on the specific kind of weed killer you are using.

The best way to get rid of weeds is to make your lawn an environment where it’s difficult for them to thrive.                                    

 An improperly mowed and unkempt lawn, a compacted soil, and a water-deprived lawn are factors that encourage weeds. Finding a means of reversing these problems and maintaining a healthy lawn will also help in eradicating stubborn weeds.

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So when is the best time to spray weeds on the lawn?

The right time to spray weed killer on lawns is when they’re growing unless you’re trying to prevent weeds from appearing. In that case, you must apply a pre-emergence weed killer before the weeds begin to grow.

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Ways to spray herbicides on your lawns

Most gardeners use pre-emergence herbicides in areas like the lawn to help eliminate the weed life cycles, especially when you encounter annual problems like weeds that grow during the summer. Examples of common pre-emergence herbicides include dithiopyr and benefin, all of which generally stop weed seeds from germinating.

Pre-emergent weed killers control annual lawn weeds while they sprout, which means the herbicide must be on the lawn before the seeds begin to germinate. Annual plants grow during one season, and then set seed and die.

Summer annual weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass germinate during the spring and winter periods while yearly weeds like common chickweed and henbit sprout in early fall.

Consequently, to control annual summer weeds, apply a pre-emergent weed killer in early spring. To control annual winter weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early fall.

If you can already see yearly weeds on your lawn, it may be a bit late to use a pre-emergent herbicide. A post-emergent weed killer will come in handy at this point.

Post-emergent weed killers control weeds that are already visible on the lawn surface. Be careful to sprinkle them in the right spots and not on your entire lawn.

When applying weed killers, wear protective clothing, including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and safety goggles to protect your eyes from the harmful substance.

Do you have a special time for spraying the weeds on your lawn? Let us know in the comment section below.