Granular vs. liquid pre-emergent...which is better?

Granular vs. liquid is a question that comes up all of the time.

For pre-emergents, most of what you find on the shelves is a granular, but if you’ve paid attention you may have noticed that most professionals use a liquid.

So which is better?

The reason lawn care companies use liquid pre-emergents is because they are in fact better.
Liquid applications give you an even coverage across your lawn, ensuring that your entire lawn is getting the same application rate. With a granular, you just can’t get that kind of an even application. Some areas may have more and others less, which will result is some sporadic breakthrough here and there.

It is especially hard using a granular pre-emergent to get an even coverage in corners or along the edges of your turf. There are typically a lot of breakthrough in those areas with granular applications, which isn’t and issue at all with liquid applications.

As I have mentioned before, these liquid products also have a post emergent aspect to them. So any young weeds that have already germinated and sprouted will be directly hit with the liquid, and killed.
Liquid applications also allow you to mix post emergents in to accomplish this as well (pre-emergent applications are the ONLY time we would recommend broadcasting a post emergent. With all other applications, weeds should just be spot sprayed.)
With a granular, you aren’t going to get near as much of a post emergent aspect.

Having said all of that, this does not mean that granular applications are useless. They will work, just not as good as the liquid applications.
When it comes to ease of use, granular applications take the cake by far. The average homeowner doesn’t have the equipment to properly put out a liquid. So if granular is the only option, then by all means use a granular! It will be far better than doing nothing.

However, if you have the equipment and means, then liquid is the way to go!