If you discover your lawn to be a sea of dandelions every spring, you have certainly missed your fall weed control chore before settling in for a long winter. Fall is the best time to treat perennial and hard to control lawn weeds. Broadleaf weed herbicide application performed in late fall is very effective.
In general, most perennial weeds, such as dandelion, clover, thistle, creeping Charlie, and others, should be targeted in fall. This is usually done around the time that leaves on the deciduous trees begin to show fall color. Targeting weeds at this time of year is most effective because perennial weeds are moving nutrients down into their root systems to store for winter. Herbicides are easily moved throughout the plant by these physiological processes. Focusing on eliminating weeds in the fall can also be beneficial to gardeners because there is less risk of damaging the good garden plants that are tender and just starting to grow in the spring. There are a variety of products and mixes of herbicides that will selectively control broadleaf weeds in turf. Different products have different active ingredients that will control certain types of weeds. Remember to always read labels and follow instructions for a successful application.
Ideally, fall broadleaf weed herbicide applications should be made on days when the temperature is above 50 degrees and no rain is forecast for the near future. When temperatures are cooler than this, there is less physiological activity in the weeds you are trying to control and the application may be less effective. Usually, by mid to late November this window has passed and applications will be ineffective.
There is no better weed control than a healthy, thriving lawn. By following good cultural practices to maintain your lawn, you can help stave off weed infestations. This includes a proper fertilization program, mowing at a height of at least 3 inches, and watering correctly. But inevitably weeds find a way to creep into the lawn. Knowing when to effectively control them is imperative. Feel free to contact us if you are having a specific problem with weeds in your lawn. We provide a lawn care service to those who feel more comfortable letting a professional do the job.