Want to apply pre-emergent yourself? Luke walks through the whole process start to finish: what products to buy, how much pre-emergent to use, how to spread it, and how to clean up.
Ready to tackle pre-emergent application yourself? Luke from Vista Lawn and Pest takes you through the entire process, start to finish: what products to use, how to apply it, how much to apply, and all the details you need to get it right. Let's walk through each step so you can protect your lawn in Prosper, Mansfield, or anywhere in North Texas from spring and summer weeds.
First things first, head to your local lawn and garden store. For this demonstration, Luke went to Earth Tones to get Dimension pre-emergent herbicide.
Dimension is a quality pre-emergent product that costs around $80 for a bag that will cover several thousand square feet. It is widely available at lawn and garden stores throughout North Texas.
Important note: Always read the label. The label is the law when it comes to herbicide application. Dimension requires four pounds per thousand square feet for effective weed prevention.
You will need a fertilizer spreader to apply the product evenly. You have two main options:
Luke picked up a handheld spreader from Ace Hardware for this demonstration.
Before you can calculate how much product you need, you must figure out how many square feet of turf you have.
Luke recommends using MeasureMyLawn.com. You do have to create an account, but you can measure your lawn once and then delete it if you want. Simply trace the outline of your lawn areas to get an accurate square footage.
For the lawn in Luke's demonstration:
Whatever square footage you have, you need to get the corresponding amount of pounds onto the lawn for it to be an effective application rate. The math is simple:
For a 3,274 square foot lawn: 3,274 ÷ 1,000 = 3.27, then 3.27 × 4 = approximately 13 pounds needed.
Pro tip: It is better to make multiple passes over the lawn rather than trying to put everything down in one pass. Luke went over the entire lawn twice to ensure even, thorough coverage. For the 3,274 square foot lawn, Luke used three full hoppers (approximately 12 to 14 pounds total).
One issue with granular pre-emergent is that it kind of gets everywhere: sidewalks, driveways, and other hard surfaces. Grab a leaf blower and blow off all the sidewalks, driveways, and other areas where granules have landed. This keeps your property looking clean and prevents product waste.
From start to finish, the actual application time is maybe 12 to 15 minutes for putting out the product and blowing off all the granules. That's it! This is a very important application, and as you can see, it is quite easy to do yourself if you follow these steps.
The spring pre-emergent needs to be down by the end of February or the first couple weeks of March in North Texas. The clock is ticking, so if you are planning to do this yourself, do not wait.
Remember, pre-emergent works by preventing weed seeds from germinating. Once they have already sprouted, it is too late for pre-emergent to work. Learn more in winter vs spring pre-emergent.
Dimension has an odor: Fair warning, Dimension kind of stinks. It is not the greatest, most pleasant smell in the world. This is normal.
Weather considerations: Apply when rain is not expected for at least 24 hours, but ideally you will get some rain or irrigation within a few days after application to activate the product.
Safety: Always wear gloves when handling herbicide products, and wash your hands thoroughly after application.
Storage: Store any remaining product in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
While DIY pre-emergent application is definitely doable, professional application offers some advantages:
At Vista Lawn and Pest, we apply three pre-emergent treatments throughout the year as part of our 8-round program, ensuring lawns across North Texas have continuous protection against seasonal weeds. Not sure whether to DIY? Read DIY lawn care vs hiring a pro.
Vista Lawn and Pest takes the guesswork out of pre-emergent with our 8-round program, using professional grade products and strategic timing to keep lawns in Prosper, Mansfield, and across North Texas weed-free. Call 469-333-8873, visit www.vistaturf.com, or scroll down and fill out the form to get started.
