Fall weather has finally arrived, and I look forward to working in the yard now! Yard work at 105 degrees was just not fun, but I love being outside in the 70’s and 80’s! Now that we have had some rain and cooler temperatures, the time has come to start thinking about weed control. Weeds just seemed to pop up out of the ground after the recent rain!
Winter weeds such as henbit, dandelion, annual bluegrass, rescuegrass, and ryegrass will be germinating soon. Now is the time to apply a pre-emergent weed treatment to your lawn to
prevent these weeds from germinating.
When you shop for weed control products, there are a few things you need to know about your lawn before you purchase anything. First, which type of grass do you have? Is it Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine? You need to match the product to your type of grass, so you don’t damage your grass when you treat for weeds.
Second, you need to identify which weeds are problems in your lawn. Do you have broadleaf weeds like henbit or dandelion? Or do you struggle with grassy weeds like annual bluegrass or rescuegrass? You need to select products for grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds, and you might have to use two separate products to get full coverage. Do some investigation in your lawn before you buy a product to save money and time. You might have to think back to last year and remember which weeds were the worst in February or March. Those are the weeds we need to prevent now. The Aggie Turf website at https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/ has a great picture guide for common weeds and grasses in Texas.
The time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in our area is now! For grassy weeds, use a pre-emergent herbicide with the active ingredients of dithiopyr, pendimethalin, or prodiamine. Corn gluten meal is an organic product that will also control grassy weeds, but it may not be as effective. Broadleaf weeds can be controlled with the active ingredient isoxaben.
A few other tips: do not mix pre-emergent products for grassy and broadleaf weeds. Use two separate treatments. Follow the instructions on the package to find your application rate. The label will also have instructions for how much water to apply after treatment. If weeds are actively growing, remove them by hand or try spot treating with a post-emergent herbicide.
The best way to control weeds is to have dense, healthy grass. You can help your grass with good mowing schedule, supplemental watering, and proper fertilization. For more information about lawn care, contact Kate Hajda at the Williamson County AgriLife Extension Office at 512-943-3300.
