Prepping for spring weeds
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Spring has arrived, and with it, the busiest time of year. Lawncare operators across the country are preparing to make preemergence herbicide applications — the most effective way to control troublesome annual broadleaf and grassy weeds before they become a visible problem.
Applied in early spring, preemergence herbicides inhibit cell division in the germinating seedling, providing season-long control of weeds before they sprout. The active ingredients in products such as Dimension®, Gallery® and Crew® (a formidable granular combination of both Dimension and Gallery that offers exceptional results with no worries) are absorbed by plant parts of the developing seedling, causing swelling and preventing normal development. Shortly after germination, under optimum conditions, the seedling dies.
Some common spring weeds on your lawncare checklist should include: crabgrass, goosegrass, spurges and the seeds of dandelion, dollarweed and clover — all of which can be controlled with a strong and flexible application program.
Customer satisfaction means spring success
Your customers don’t necessarily want endless applications — they want the satisfaction and peace of mind that comes with knowing weeds will not become a problem.
With that in mind, let’s start with preemergence best practices. Application timing of preemergence herbicides will vary based on your geographic location, but many weed seeds begin to germinate when the soil temperature is 50 degrees or warmer. Keep in mind that perennial weeds that have reproductive parts below ground will not be well controlled by a preemergence herbicide. If a postemergence solution is needed, be sure to reference our Weed ID Guide to help you select the option that best meets your needs.
Single applications are often very effective, but lawncare operators in areas with extremely high weed pressure should consider multiple applications to get season-long control. Some will make an application in early spring and then another later in the season, usually four to six weeks apart, spreading the optimum rates over two visits. Most preemergence herbicides require a half inch of irrigation or rain to move the herbicide into the soil. For best results, make sure the treated area is watered within the days required by the herbicide label.
A portfolio of powerful products
Successful preemergence control starts by properly identifying problem weeds and making the right product application at the right time. Dimension® specialty herbicide acts as the foundation of a successful turf management program — it’s a dependable preemergence herbicide that your business can rely on year after year.
As the nation’s leading turf and ornamental product for preemergence and early postemergence crabgrass control, Dimension gives you a wide and flexible application window, allowing you to make applications that consider your labor and schedule. Customers will be delighted knowing weeds are taken care of before they even become a problem — and you’ll be happy to receive fewer callbacks, too.
For preemergence control, Dimension can be applied in the early spring and just prior to crabgrass germination. For early postemergence control, it can be applied up to crabgrass tillering (5-leaf stage) in cool-season turf and up to the five-tiller stage in warm-season turf. It also offers preemergence control of 44 other grassy and broadleaf weeds.
Gallery® specialty herbicide stops broadleaf weeds before they germinate, so you won’t spend all season chasing them down with postemergence applications or hand-weeding. Gallery controls more than 95 broadleaf weeds in turf and ornamental settings, making it an ideal border-to-border solution.
Do you treat lawns with large landscape beds as well? Consider applying Crew® specialty herbicide for exceptional results with no worries. A combination of both Dimension and Gallery specialty herbicides, Crew offers a 2-in-1 solution for turfgrasses and landscape beds that is safe to use on warm- and cool-season turfgrasses and over the top of more than 410 ornamentals with the ease of application that a granule formulation provides.
Preemergence applications set the stage for season-long weed control, reducing the labor demands later in the season and satisfying your customers with a beautiful lawn that is the envy of their neighbors. Regardless of the product used, always read and follow label directions to ensure success.
Crew® is not registered for sale, distribution or use in New York. Other state restrictions on the sale and use of Crew may apply. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. State restrictions on the sale and use of Dimension® apply. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions.
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Effective weed control starts with identification. Learn to identify 90+ grassy and broadleaf weeds.