The Key to Weed Control is Starting Early

Weeds, fungus, and other intruders often show up in your lawn in the Spring after being carried around in the wind and landing in your grass. Once these pests find a lush spot of soil to grow in, they can be hard to get rid of. In this case, the best offense is a good defense, and preparing your lawn for the season can keep unwanted growth at bay before it becomes a bigger problem. Here are key steps to prevent the growth of new weeds this year:

Early Spring (March and April)

March and early April are great months to begin a weed control regimen. We recommend applying a pre-emergent product, such as IFA Step 1, sometime in March or the first week of April to prevent bad grasses and spurge from entering your lawn and developing roots. When applied correctly, a good pre-emergent will keep a variety of bad grasses out. If you don’t apply a pre-emergent in the early Spring, bad grass seeds from all over your neighborhood can blow into your lawn and take root.

Late Spring (May)

By the time May rolls around, you should be applying a combination “Weed and Feed” product, such as IFA Step 2, to prevent weed seeds from growing. If applied correctly, these fertilizers will simultaneously keep your grass weed-free and feed your lawn. If you don’t apply a good weed and feed product before the first of June, you will be fighting weeds in your lawn the rest of the year.

Important note: Applying a pre-emergent and weed-and-feed is not a guarantee you won’t see any weeds. Certain annual or bi-annual weed seeds may have taken root and germinated last year or the year before and will come up despite your best efforts. Stay tuned for future blog posts on how to tackle existing weeds with post-emergent herbicides.