What’s the Best Time of Year for Weed Control? And Other FAQs
If you have a lawn or field that you want to keep free of weeds, then you probably have questions about how to achieve that.
Take a look at the following questions our team is frequently asked to learn more about how you can start taking control of your yard with effective weed control solutions.
What Are the Most Common Methods of Weed Control?
There are five primary methods of weed control management that homeowners and landowners can use to grow a lush, green lawn. Depending on your lawn type, grass type, environment, and other factors, it’s possible to benefit from one or a combination of the following management techniques:
Chemical Weed Control
Chemical weed control is the most common type of weed management for homeowners and landowners. This technique requires the application of a chemical, or herbicide, to the lawn or field to kill off any present weeds and deter new weed seeds from growing.
When applied correctly, chemical applications provide the most effective, most efficient weed control, and they can be used on a wide variety of grass types.
Preventative Weed Control
Preventative weed control requires homeowners or landowners to take measures to prevent weed seeds from propagating in the soil of their lawns or fields. Examples of preventative weed control include:
- Planting weed-free seed
- Washing lawn care or agricultural equipment before use
- Applying mulch to garden beds
- Checking irrigation water to ensure it’s free of weed seeds
Cultural Weed Control
Cultural weed control is more applicable to land specified for farming or agricultural purposes. This technique involves establishing and maintaining an environment designed to deter weeds from growing.
From planting competitive vegetation that competes with weed growth to properly preparing the soil, planting at desired times, rotating crops, fallowing, and more, cultural weed control works to disrupt weed lifecycles and deter any from growing or taking over.
Biological Weed Control
Biological weed control relies on living agents to help control weed growth in a lawn or field.
Types of living agents used in biological weed control can include:
- Mites
- Beetles
- Nematodes
- Rust fungi
- Cows
- Goats
- Sheep
While biological weed control does not eradicate weeds from an area, it can be used effectively to keep weeds from growing out of control and spreading tons of seeds, helping maintain and even reducing the number of weeds that grow in the area.
Mechanical Weed Control
Mechanical weed control involves physical interference with weed growth, such as weed pulling or weed disking.
There are several ways to employ mechanical weed control on a lawn or field, including:
- Pulling
- Digging
- Tilling (such as plowing, discing, or harrowing)
- Plowing
- Mulching
For the remainder of our FAQs, the answers will relate only to chemical weed control.
What Weeds Can I Target With Weed Control?
The weeds you target with your chemical weed control method depend on the herbicide used.
The preferred type of herbicide is a selective herbicide that tackles only certain kinds of weeds but does not kill your turfgrass. However, non-selective herbicides work to kill off all weed types, along with any other plant they come in contact with.
For most homeowners, the goal is to eradicate weeds from the lawn while supporting and boosting the growth of the turfgrass, making selective herbicide the choice to go with.
Specific weed species targeted by selective herbicides include, but are not limited to:
- Dandelions
- Thistles
- Crabgrass
- Annual bluegrass
- Goosegrass
What’s the Difference Between Pre-Emergent and Post-Emergent Weed Control?
Two primary categories apply to chemical weed control products: pre-emergent herbicides and post-emergent herbicides. Both work to tackle weeds, but each one affects weeds at a specific stage of life.
As the name suggests, pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the soil to tackle weed seeds and weeds that have germinated but have not emerged above ground yet. Pre-emergent also creates a barrier that works to treat weeds that are close to reaching the ground surface.
On the other hand, post-emergent herbicides are applied to soil to tackle weeds that have already emerged and are growing alongside other plants or turfgrass.
When Is the Best Time of Year to Apply Weed Control?
For the most effective weed control, it’s best to apply pre-emergent herbicide, post-emergent herbicide, and fertilizer at specific times throughout the year to completely eradicate weeds and enhance grass growth.
Weed control is not a one-application solution that should only be applied during a particular season. Instead, it should be optimized with applications in late winter, early spring, summer, and autumn.
At Mid Georgia Turf Solutions, our application schedule optimizes the chemical and the season in which it is applied to better tackle weeds and promote strong, healthy grass growth:
- Late winter: Pre-emergent
- Early spring: Pre-emergent and fertilizer
- Summer: Pre-emergent and fertilizer
- Fall: Fertilizer
- Late fall: Pre-emergent
- Winter: Root growth
Want to grow a healthy, lush lawn throughout 2025? Schedule weed control from the lawn care experts at Mid Georgia Turf Solutions!
Mid Georgia Turf Solutions is your source for exceptional weed control services in Middle Georgia. We understand all soil types and grass species that thrive in the area, and we have the solutions you need to eradicate weeds from your lawn for good.
Schedule a weed control service today:
Mid Georgia Turf Solutions provides essential lawn care to homeowners and property managers throughout the Middle Georgia area. We service customers in and around:
- Barnesville, GA
- Bolingbroke, GA
- Bonaire, GA
- Byron, GA
- Centerville, GA
- Covington, GA
- Eatonton, GA
- Fayetteville, GA
- Forsyth, GA
- Fort Valley, GA
- Gray, GA
- Griffin, GA
- Hampton, GA
- Jackson, GA
- Juliette, GA
- Kathleen, GA
- Knoxville, GA
- Lizella, GA
- Macon, GA
- Manchester, GA
- McDonough, GA
- Milledgeville, GA
- Monticello, GA
- Newnan, GA
- Perry, GA
- Sparta, GA
- Stockbridge, GA
- Thomaston, GA
- Warner Robins, GA
- Zebulon, GA
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