I live in Tennessee in the southeastern part of the US and I believe it is zone 5 . The temperatures for the last few weeks have been getting up to around lower 40's or mid 30's with lows in the teens. I dont think that will change for this next week either. I have noticed people buying pre-emergant at the store already and have noticed last year that some of my neighbors and lawn companies put it out around mid February. I have always thought this was way to early. I put mine out at the spring equinox (March 21) or first week of April. Which is better you think for my area? Why? What will happen if you put it out too early?
2007-02-09 09:56:59 · 4 answers · asked by ? 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
It is not good to put it out early, but it is very important to put the pre-emerg down at before the weeds germinate. Most pre-emerge products have absolutely no effect on weeds that have germinated. Thus, wait to late and you will have weeds
The product must be well watered in, to activate the weed barrier before the conditions are right for weed seed germination. Generally 1/2 inches of rain or irrigation is good. If you do not know how long to run your sprinklers for 1/2 an inch of water, then use tuna fish can opened on one side to measure. Run the sprinklers till you have a 1/2 inch of water and note this time needed for 1/2 inch. Set several cans to get an average time. It may take several normal cycles over several days to put down 1/2 inch of water.
Looking at the crabgrass Germination dates listed on a quality preemerge product that I use, it appears that your crabgrass will germinate around April 20th, thus your March 21st is about right.
Read the label of your product and see how long it will last. If it will not last from March 21st until the end of the season, then a late summer application according to your label would be wise.
The reason that the lawn care pros go earlier may be because they know the importance of getting the product down before the weeds and they simply can not do their huge number of clients on the same week. They might also be splitting the preemerg application into two separate half rate applications, with one application scheduled in Feb and the final app in April. This would get the preemerg out before the weeds germinate and be a little more gentile on the turf.
The down side to putting the product down early is that it may stop working before the weed season is over, but do not let that tempt you to waiting to late. Get the product down before the weeds germinate.
2007-02-09 14:46:12 · answer #1 · answered by jdt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can put it out to early. If you do it loses it's potency. You shouldn't put it out until you actually see the very first weeds starting to grow. That way it will kill the weeds for a longer period of time. If you put it out early you may only kill the sprouting seeds for a few days instead of a few weeks.
2007-02-09 10:16:09 · answer #2 · answered by mamapig_57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most common weeds germinate in soil tmps around 45-55degrees
2007-02-13 01:10:27 · answer #3 · answered by JOSEPH J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should always put it out before the fuchsias bloom
2007-02-09 10:24:23 · answer #4 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋