Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Stop weeds before they start!
Annual application of pre-emergent herbicide is the foundation to any good lawn care program.
Give your lawn a head start and put those pesky annual weeds in their place.
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The Andersons Barricade Herbicide
A great, easy-to-use, all-around pre-emergent herbicide option that you can drop in your spreader and use with great results.
Andersons Barricade includes 0.48% Prodiamine as the primary ingredient, and it will prevent germination of annual grassy and broadleaf weeds like crabgrass, poa annua, goosegrass, and henbit. Apply in early spring before soil temperatures reach 50 degrees, and again in the fall to prevent germination of annual weed seeds.
Activate it with 1/2 inch of water within 14 days of application.
One 18 pound bag will cover up to 5,800 square feet at the low rate suggested by the manufacturer. 2,500 square feet at the highest rate recommended.
Prodiamine 65 WEDG Pre-Emergent Herbicide
If you have a large lawn, or looking to save money by buying pro-grade Prodiamine for your pre-emergent applications, this is a good product that will probably last you for years.
This 5 pound container of generic Prodiamine is enough to treat 5 acres (217,800 square feet) of lawn, and with a shelf life of 3 years, one purchase will set most homeowners up for the next 3 years of pre-emergent weed control (a great value).
You’ll want to wear PPE and use a backpack sprayer (or similar) to mix and apply this product.
One 5 pound container will treat 5 acres (once mixed with water) at the application rate recommended by the manufacturer.
Dimension 2EW Herbicide
If you have serious weed issues in your lawn that you’re trying to get under control, Dimension 2EW may be exactly what you need.
What I like about this product is that it combines pre-emergent control of weeds (blocking germination) with early post-emergent weed control of most common lawn weeds.
This means that even if your crabgrass has started germinating when you lay down your pre-emergent, you can still stop it in its tracks. Dithiopyr is the active ingredient in this one.
One 1/2 gallon (64 ounce) container will treat 128,000 square feet (~3 acres) once mixed with water.
Key Factors to Consider When Using Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Many homeowners are intimidated by herbicides, but you don’t need to be. Here are a few of my best tips for good results:
- Always wear PPE when handling and applying herbicides. Long pants, long sleeves, gloves, mask, and safety glasses.
- Remember that most pre-emergent herbicides block ALL seeds from germinating. Don’t apply at the same time you’re seeding or over-seeding an area of your yard unless you use a product specially formulated for this application (like this one from Scotts).
- Choose the application type you’re most comfortable with. Applying granular pre-emergent is generally easier for most homeowners who don’t have experience spraying, or who don’t own a backpack sprayer. Long term it’s cheaper to buy liquid products and mix your own if you have the gear, or want to invest in it and learn.
- Pre-Emergent herbicides work by blocking seed germination. If you apply it after your weeds have started to grow it will not work. That is a function of the product, not a flaw. It’s your responsibility to monitor soil temperatures, and apply your pre-emergent in the spring when soil temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lawns that have a serious weed issue may need to apply pre-emergent twice annually for the first few years. This will give your grass an opportunity to thicken up without competition. Check your product label to understand how long it lasts, and when you should re-apply.
- If you mix liquid herbicides and have some left over, dispose of it properly. Take these mixtures to your local household hazardous waste site for safe and responsible disposal. You can google “household hazardous waste disposal near me” to find your best local option.
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