Weed killer is an integral component of lawn maintenance and should only be used sparingly to eliminate specific weeds. Excessive use may damage grass plants.
Liquid herbicides are mixed with water and applied using either a hose sprayer or tank sprayer, providing quick coverage over large areas of weeds. Liquid products also resist raindrops and begin working immediately upon contact with their target.
Weeds are a natural part of your lawn
Weed and feed products are designed to address both pre-emergent (such as dandelions) and post-emergent weeds ( such as crabgrass). They contain herbicides to kill weeds as well as fertilizers that promote healthy grass, and when used according to instructions they provide effective results; however, overusing can create dependency upon these chemical treatments, making your lawn less effective at naturally controlling weeds in its own right.
Chemicals found in weed and feed treatments can be extremely harmful to children and animals who play in treated areas, from absorption through skin contact or being consumed when children and animals lick their paws after walking on treated lawns, to polluting local waterways via storm drains or runoff.
Before applying weed killer to grass, it should first be damp. Following application, do not water for 48 hours post application so the product can stick to its leaves. In addition, consider including a surfactant in your spreader in order to reduce resistance from leaf surfaces.
They compete with your grass
Weeds not only take up space in your lawn, they compete with grass for water, oxygen and nutrients. That is why thicker lawns tend to be more resistant to weed growth; so having regular lawn care treatments from spring through fall and adding services such as lawn aeration will help thicken it further and choke off weed growth.
Many weeds are aggressive and can quickly overrun your lawn without proper control measures being implemented. Some varieties even pose health hazards to both pets and children, creating allergies as well as harm.
There are various methods available for killing weeds, such as using glyphosate herbicide (the active ingredient found in Roundup). You could also opt for systemic herbicides that penetrate deeply into weed roots and kill them from within, which are highly effective against large weeds. Unfortunately, over time some herbicides become immune to them; so it’s wise to change your approach from time to time to keep weeds at bay.
They are invasive
Weeds are by nature invasive, seeking to expand as rapidly as possible at the expense of grass. Their roots compete for water, nutrients and sunlight with those of grass roots in an intense struggle that often turns violent; ultimately it’s up to grass roots themselves to fight back if they want their essential resources such as nutrients or water back.
Invasive weeds require ongoing treatments and ongoing maintenance in order to be controlled and prevented from spreading further. For optimal results, applying weed control products during fall temperatures when temperatures are lower and less humid as this increases seed germination resistance of weeds less likely to go to seed.
Contact herbicides should always be preferred over systemic ones as they only damage weeds that they come into direct contact with, making it ideal for sowing and growing, while cold weather speeds up metabolism slowing the breakdown time for their effectiveness.
They are expensive
No single answer exists regarding when to spray weeds; the timing depends entirely on each species of weed and its lifecycle. That being said, most weed killers perform best during warmer months such as Spring and Fall when pre-growth stage weeds are most vulnerable to killing off by chemical treatments.
There are two kinds of weed killers: selective and non-selective. Selective herbicides target only specific weeds while sparing the grass from damage, typically mixed with an inert carrier such as clay, lime or fertilized soil and applied using a fertilizer spreader. Non-selective herbicides attack any plant they come in contact with regardless of your desired outcome – an approach known as blanket spraying.
No matter the type of weed killer you use, basic safety precautions must be observed at all times. Wear long pants, closed-toed shoes and gloves while avoiding product dust exposure; don’t water your lawn after applying weed killer as this could wash away its beneficial chemicals before they can be properly absorbed by soil and plants.