It's very important to get complete coverage across your lawn with your pre-emergent. This sounds obvious, but it's where many homeowners in Midlothian, Prosper, and throughout North Texas go wrong—not because they skip pre-emergent entirely, but because they miss spots.
Here's the simple truth: any area where pre-emergent is not applied is guaranteed to have weed breakthrough. There's no "close enough" with pre-emergent. If a section of your lawn doesn't receive coverage, weeds will find it.
The Edges and Corners Problem
Pay close attention during the growing season and you'll notice something interesting. Many yards look very clean and weed-free throughout the main lawn area, but they're a little rough around the edges and corners. Sound familiar?
That's because corners and edges are the easiest spots to miss when applying pre-emergent. It happens to DIYers and even some professionals who rush through applications.
Think about how you apply product to your lawn. You're probably focused on the big, open areas—back and forth in nice straight lines across the middle of the yard. But what happens when you reach the fence line? The flower bed borders? The corners where two edges meet? Those awkward spots along the driveway or sidewalk?
Those are the areas that get shortchanged, and those are exactly where weeds show up first.
Why This Happens
There are a few reasons edges and corners get missed:
- Spreaders don't reach all the way to borders
- Corners require extra maneuvering that feels tedious
- Irregular shapes along beds and hardscaping are easy to skip
- Rushing to finish leads to cutting corners (literally)
The result is a lawn that looks great from the middle but has a weedy frame around it. For homeowners across Waxahachie, Midlothian, and Prosper, this is one of the most common issues we see—and one of the most preventable.
Take Your Time
The solution is simple: slow down and be thorough. When you reach the edges of your lawn, don't assume your spreader is covering them adequately. Make deliberate passes along borders, fence lines, and bed edges. Walk into corners and make sure they receive product.
Yes, it takes a few extra minutes. But those few minutes now save you hours of pulling weeds or applying post-emergent treatments later. The edges and corners of your lawn deserve the same attention as the middle.
Check Your Work in Spring
Want to know if you achieved complete coverage? Your lawn will tell you. When spring arrives and weeds start popping up, take note of where they appear. If your edges and corners are the problem areas while the rest of your lawn stays clean, you know exactly what to fix next time.
Watch the video below to learn more about achieving complete pre-emergent coverage across your entire lawn.
For professional fertilization and weed control in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
