Weeds grow faster in some areas than others, such as the hot and humid South or during exceptionally hot Northern summers. Some prefer cooler, shadier spots in the yard while others grow very well in direct sunlight. What many weeds do have in common though is the fact that they can be found most anywhere throughout the year.
One spot where weeds cause problems is in flower beds, where they grow through the mulch and smother the flowers and other plants. Controlling them before they emerge from the soil is the best way to keep the weeds from ruining the appearance and health of the flower bed.
What Do Pre-Emergents Do?
A pre-emergent weed killer is the direct opposite of a post-emergent weed killer. Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the area as a control measure to kill weeds before they germinate. Post-emergents are applied directly to mature or actively growing broadleaf and grassy weeds, killing them on the spot. Though you can get a pre-emergent in a liquid form, you'll see it sold most times as granules. They're easy to apply with a spreader and will soak down into the soil, killing the weeds before they have a chance to grow and cause an infestation in your flower bed.
Which Pre-Emergent Herbicides to Use
A pre-emergent herbicide isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for weed control. Some are best applied on annuals whereas others are best for perennials. Some do best at controlling broadleaf weeds, and others are formulated for nutsedge and other hard-to-kill weeds.
You may also be able to combine pre-emergent herbicides with ornamental fertilizers depending on the type. Doing so will prevent weeds from emerging while also improving the health of your plants.
We've assembled a list of the most helpful and common pre-emergent herbicides for weed control to help prevent weed growth in your yard & flower beds:
- Andersons 18-0-4 w/ Dimension
- 4-Speed XT
- Barricade
- Cool Power
- Crew Herbicide
- Dimension 2EW
- Drive XLR8
- Freehand 1.75G
- Gallery 75DF T&O
- Gallery SC
- Horsepower
- Ornamec 170/ Ornamec OTT
- Q4 Plus
- Quicksilver T&O
- Snapshot DG
- Solitare
- Specticle Total
- Speedzone EW
- Strike Three
- Tenacity
- Trimec Southern
- T-Zone SE
- Vexis
How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides
First things first: Read The Label.
We can't stress this enough. It's very, very important to read the label before applying any product. You'll need to know if it treats your specific weed problem, how much product to use, when the best time to apply the product and more. The label will give you this information. So, yes, always read the label.
Having said that, applying a pre-emergent is pretty straightforward. If it's a granule herbicide, apply it with a hand spreader. If it requires a tank-mix, use a backpack sprayer.
Granules are the easiest to apply and are evenly distributed over the area if you use a hand spreader. There's no mixing required or equipment to buy, except a spreader if you don't already own one, but it's an inexpensive purchase. You can also spread the granules by hand, but you'll have to make sure to distribute them evenly for the best results.
Control Weeds with Pre-Emergents
Combining pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides is an effective way to kill weeds that have established in the flower bed and for those that are a day or two away from popping up through the soil. With the right herbicide, a little know-how and help from WinProOnline, you'll be able to keep the weeds at bay and enjoy a beautiful flower bed throughout every season.