If weeds are already showing up in your lawn, you may think it’s a good time to grab the post emergent weed killers. Stay your hand. Timing is everything when applying selective weed killing products to avoid doing more harm than good, especially when we’re this early into the growing season. Applying a post emergent weed killer before it’s time not only stresses out your lawn but can also make your weed problem worse.
Related: Your Neighbor’s Lawn Is Green—Yours Isn’t. Here’s Why
What Post Emergent Weed Killer Does
Just as it sounds, post emergent weed killer is for killing weeds that have already germinated and sprouted. These are the weeds that either got past your preemergent treatment or started growing before you had a chance to apply preemergent. It’s important to note that a post-emergent herbicide will not prevent weeds. Its only function is to kill those existing weeds.
Applying Post Emergent Too Early
The biggest mistake many homeowners make is applying post emergent as soon as they see weeds popping up in their yard. The problem is, doing so can actually hurt your grass. Even though post emergent is a selective herbicide, meaning it won’t harm grass, your grass is just coming out of dormancy in the spring. That means it isn’t equipped to handle the stress of a post emergent treatment.
Related: Don’t Aerate Your Lawn This Spring—Here’s Why
When to Apply Post Emergent
You need to check off a few boxes before its safe to apply post emergent for your lawn:
Grass is actively growing
Your lawn should be a bright green through the entire lawn and it should be growing consistently. This is a sign that it has fully awoken and the entire lawn is out of dormancy
You’ve Mowed Two to Four Times
A good benchmark that your lawn is fully awake, strong, and ready to handle the stress of a weed killing treatment is that you’ve mowed it several times.
Temperatures have stabilized
Temperatures tend to fluctuate a lot in the spring. It can flirt with 70 degrees Fahrenheit one day then drop below freezing the next. Don’t add a post emergent herbicide until temperatures are consistently above freezing and all threat of frost has passed.
Weeds are Actively Growing
A post emergent treatment isn’t going to do much for your lawn if there aren’t any weeds growing in it. Wait until you see weed activity in your yard before applying a post-emergent otherwise you're wasting your time and money by applying this herbicide too early.
Don’t Wait Too Long
Timing is crucial when it comes to applying for a post emergent. While you don’t want to apply it too early, you also don’t want to wait too long. Post emergent has its limitations. If you allow weeds to mature, it will have a harder time killing them off.
Getty Images.
What To Do Now
If it’s too early to apply a post-emergent, don’t worry. You can still take action:
- Spot treat: You don’t have to watch those weeds grow while you’re waiting for your lawn to get strong enough to handle a post emergent treatment. Spot treat those weeds by putting a selective weed killer in a handheld pump sprayer.
- Apply preemergent: Just because some weeds have sprouted doesn’t mean all the weed seed has. Go ahead and apply preemergent if you haven’t already. This won’t take care of those existing weeds, but it will prevent more from growing while you’re waiting for your lawn to wake up.
How to Apply Post Emergent
- Avoid Mowing: Time your post emergent treatment for a couple of days after you mow and don’t mow for at least a couple of days afterward. Your lawn will need to recover from the post emergent treatment, so it doesn’t need the added stress of mowing.
- Don’t Water Immediately: Post emergent needs about 24 hours to work its magic and kill weeds. During this time do not water your lawn, or you’ll wash the post emergent off. Likewise, avoid applying it when rain is in the immediate forecast.
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