Pre-emergent Season Almost Here

A little pre-emergent labor in March now when it's relatively comfortable, means landscape contractors have a lot less to do come the heat of summer. There's a narrow window of opportunity from mid-February to March to put out a pre-emergent herbicide to control the spring and summer annual weeds.

There are a number of pre-emergents out there: Dimension and Barricade, as well as Balan, Betasan, Hi-Yield Benefan, Pendulum, Preen, Surflan and Treflan. Halts can usually be found at the big box stores, as can a couple of Green Lite products called Amaze and First Down. The others might be available or can be ordered through one of the local nurseries or feed stores.

Atrazine is another pre-emergent but it usually comes as part of a weed and feed. Weed and feed has a number of problems. When it's time to put out a pre-emergent herbicide, the fertilizer in the weed and feed will be wasted. If contractors wait until the grass can use the fertilizer, the weeds have already sprouted and the pre-emergent will be useless. If you contractors can find Atrazine separate from fertilizer, it has some significant restrictions as to when and where it can be applied.

No matter what pre-emergent contractors chose, read and follow the label assiduously.