DIY Pre-Emergent Application for North Texas Lawns in Midlothian and Prosper
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 Midlothian or Prosper lawn from spring and summer weeds.
Step 1: Get the Right Product
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's 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.
Step 2: Get a Fertilizer Spreader
You'll need a fertilizer spreader to apply the product evenly. You have two main options:
Broadcast Spreader: Good for larger lawns, but can be less preciseHandheld Spreader: If your lawn is in the 5,000-6,000 square feet or under range, just get one of the handheld spreaders. They work just fine and are actually more precise than the bigger ones.
Luke picked up a handheld spreader from Ace Hardware for this demonstration.
Step 3: Measure Your Lawn
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:
- Front and side yard measured: 3,274 square feet
- Product requirement: 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet
- Total needed: Approximately 13 pounds of product
Step 4: Calculate Product Amount
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:
- Take your total square footage
- Divide by 1,000
- Multiply by 4 (the pounds needed per thousand)
For a 3,274 square foot lawn: 3,274 ÷ 1,000 = 3.27, then 3.27 × 4 = approximately 13 pounds needed
Step 5: Apply the Product
Now for the actual application:
- Put on gloves before handling the product
- Fill your spreader with product
- Walk at a steady pace across your lawn
- Keep going until you've emptied the required amount onto the lawn
- Make multiple passes to ensure even coverage
Pro tip: It's 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 12-14 pounds total), making multiple passes across the lawn for complete coverage.
Step 6: Clean Up Granules
One issue with granular pre-emergent is that stuff 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.
Total Time Investment
From start to finish, the actual application time is maybe 12-15 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's quite easy to do yourself if you follow these steps.
Important Timing Reminder
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're planning to do this yourself, don't wait.
Remember, pre-emergent works by preventing weed seeds from germinating. Once they've already sprouted, it's too late for pre-emergent to work.
A Few Additional Tips
Dimension has an odor: Fair warning - Dimension kind of stinks. It's not the greatest, most pleasant smell in the world. This is normal.
Weather considerations: Apply when rain isn't expected for at least 24 hours, but ideally you'll 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.
When to Call a Professional
While DIY pre-emergent application is definitely doable, professional application offers some advantages:
- Commercial-grade products with longer-lasting effectiveness
- Professional spreaders that ensure even coverage
- Expertise in application rates and timing
- Part of a comprehensive program with multiple pre-emergent applications
- No time investment or product storage on your part
At Vista Lawn and Pest, we apply three pre-emergent treatments throughout the year as part of our 8-round program, ensuring your Midlothian and Prosper lawns have continuous protection against seasonal weeds.
Watch the video below to see Luke walk through the entire pre-emergent application process from start to finish, including product selection, measurement, and application technique.
For professional pre-emergent application as part of a complete lawn care program in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
