So you missed out on the pre-emergent application…what now?
First of all, you’re going to have weeds, there is no way around it. But there are ways to deal with them, so not all hope is lost!
You need to have a plan, and that plan consist of only two things:
1. Have post emergents on hand. You will need something that is selective for both broadleaf and grassy weeds depending on what you are dealing with. However, do not think that post emergents are going to solve all of your problems, they are just a supplement for #2.
2. Keep your grass healthy. You’ve heard the best offense is a good defense, and its no different in the battle against weeds. When your lawn is healthy, weeds have a much harder time growing! So…feed your lawn, aerate your lawn, water your lawn, mow your lawn EVERY WEEK…this is how you promote healthy turf and minimize weeds. Then…as you are doing all of these things to keep your lawn as healthy as possible…use your post emergents to spot treat weed breakthrough as it appears.
If that sound like things you should be doing even if you DID get a pre-emergent, you would be correct. The plan is exactly the same either way, the only difference is amount of post emergent you will likely need.
It might be tempting to just throw in the towel for this year and just wait for next season. That will only make things harder in the long run. Your lawns health is much like your personal health…there is never a bad time to improve it, and the longer you neglect it the harder it is to turn around!
