Not all pre-emergents are created equal. Timing and mix rates are important for results, but what about the quality of the products themselves? With endless options on the market, it can be hard to decide which way to go.
Over the years at Vista Lawn and Pest, we've tested and used dozens of pre-emergent products. Through that experience, three products quickly rose to the top as the most effective options for homeowners in Midlothian, Prosper, and throughout North Texas.
Simazine
Simazine is a great product that's very effective against late-emerging winter weeds—the ones you start seeing pop up in early spring. It's also highly effective against broadleaf weeds that emerge throughout the spring season.
The downside to Simazine is that you can experience some breakthrough in grassy weeds once summer arrives. If crabgrass and other summer grasses are your main concern, this is worth considering.
Prodiamine
Prodiamine is another very effective pre-emergent, especially against those grassy weeds that come up in late spring and summer. It's excellent at stopping crabgrass and similar invaders before they take hold.
Unlike Simazine, however, you may get some breakthrough in broadleaf weeds when Prodiamine is applied. It's a trade-off depending on which weed types are your bigger problem.
Simazine vs Prodiamine: Which to Choose?
When deciding between Prodiamine and Simazine, you're essentially choosing whether to spot-treat a few grassy weeds in the summer or a few broadleaf weeds in the spring. Neither product is perfect, but both are highly effective with minimal breakthrough when applied correctly and at the right time.
In our experience, broadleaf weeds are a little easier to deal with once they've emerged, so Prodiamine has a slight advantage in our book. But either product will serve DFW homeowners well.
Specticle: The Professional Choice
The last product worth discussing is what we currently use in our program: Specticle. This is hands down the best pre-emergent on the market right now, and it's not even close.
Specticle covers all types of weeds, from grassy to broadleaf. It also has a nine-month residual—the best on the market by a full six months. That makes it the most effective and longest-lasting pre-emergent available.
There is one significant downside: the cost. Specticle runs about $1,700 per gallon. This makes sense for a company like ours that uses it in volume across hundreds of lawns in Waxahachie, Midlothian, Prosper, and beyond. But it doesn't make much financial sense for the average homeowner treating a single property.
Recommendations for DIYers
For homeowners handling their own lawn care, Prodiamine and Simazine are likely the best route. They're effective, reasonably priced, and widely available at home improvement stores and online.
Most importantly, once you've decided on a product, get it put down right now. The best pre-emergent in the world won't help if it's sitting in your garage.
Watch the video below to learn more about these pre-emergent products and how they compare.
For professional fertilization and weed control in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
