When choosing a herbicide to spray on your lawn there are three questions to ask before making a decision on a product.
What type of grass you are spraying on? What weeds are you controlling? Are you trying to prevent the weed or control what is currently there?
Lets break them down:
- What type of grass are you spraying on?
-Cool-season: Fescue, Bluegrass, Perennial Rye
-Warm-season: Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, Centipede
Certain herbicides like SpeedZone can be used on both types of grasses, but others like Celsius only work on one grass type. Make sure you are safe to use the product you are looking for on your grass type.
- What weeds are you controlling?
-Grassy Weeds
-Broadleaf Weeds
-Sedges
Different herbicide classes work on different types of weeds. A product like Pylex only works on grassy weeds, while other work on another type or various types. Sulfentrazone is an example of a product that will do well on sedges, broadleaf, and some grassy weeds.
- Are you trying to prevent the weed or control what is currently there
-Pre-emergent
-Post-emergent
Any weed that comes from seeds can be controlled with a pre-emergent. Post-emergents will control weeds that growing from pre-existing roots in the ground from last year or any weeds that have made it through a pre-emergent barrier.
If you have applied a pre-emergent this spring, but you have weeds coming up, simply control them with a post-emergent. These are sometimes called selective herbicides or non-selective herbicides depending on the chemical class.
Choosing a Proper Herbicide
These questions will help guide you as you are choosing the best herbicide for your needs, but I would also recommend following our instagram page (@lawnpestsupply) to learn more about products. There may be a handful of product that meet your needs and have your weeds on the label, but some products stand out for their performance and results. We highlight these products to help you make a more informed decision.
