Protect Your Lawn This Season
Ben SimsShare
I‘d love to talk about how to best protect your lawn from weeds and grubs this growing season. It’s probably one of the most important topics in lawn care, and will set you up for an amazing season!
Let’s talk about Pre-emergents...
Using pre-emergent herbicides like Barricade and Spartan in lawns provides several benefits. Pre-emergents work by preventing weed seeds from germinating and establishing themselves in the lawn. Here's why it's beneficial to incorporate them into your lawn care routine:
Less Labor and Maintenance: By preventing weeds from germinating, you reduce the need for manual weed pulling or post-emergent herbicides later on. This saves time and labor.Healthier Lawn: Weeds compete with desired grasses for space, light, nutrients, and water. By limiting the number of weeds, you allow your grass to grow thicker and healthier.
Cost-Effective: Investing in pre-emergent herbicides can save money in the long run. Fewer weeds mean less expenditure on post-emergent herbicides, less water waste (as weeds can consume more water than grass), and less maintenance.
Aesthetic Appeal: A weed-free lawn is more visually appealing. A thick, lush, green lawn can be more easily achieved when competing weeds are kept at bay.
Preserving Lawn Integrity: Some aggressive weeds can overtake a lawn if left unchecked. Utilising a pre-emergent prevents such aggressive weed takeover, preserving the integrity and species composition of the lawn.
Decreased Weed Seed Bank: Over time, consistent use of pre-emergents can reduce the number of weed seeds in the soil, leading to a decrease in potential weed problems in future years.
Environmental Impact: Using pre-emergents can reduce the need for multiple applications of post-emergent herbicides, which can be more harmful to the environment. By preventing the problem at its source, there's less need for reactive treatments.
However, it's important to note that:
- Timing is crucial: Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied before the weed seeds germinate, typically early in the growing season.
- Not all-encompassing: Pre-emergents won’t be effective against weeds that have already germinated and started growing. Hence, they are just one tool in a comprehensive lawn care strategy.
Overall, incorporating pre-emergent herbicides in lawn care can result in a more robust, healthier, and visually appealing lawn.
Let's Now Talk Grub and Pest Prevention...
-
Protect Lawn Health: Many insects, like African black beetle (grubs) and Armyworm, can damage the roots or blades of grass. By keeping these pests at bay, you ensure a healthier, more vigorous lawn.
-
Reduce Secondary Damage: Some pests, such as grubs, can attract predators like birds, which can dig up lawns seeking the grubs to eat. This secondary damage can sometimes be more extensive than the initial insect damage.
-
Consistent Lawn Appearance: Preventing insect damage helps maintain a uniformly green and lush lawn. Pests can create brown patches, thinning areas, or other unsightly damage.
-
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your lawn is protected from potential infestations can offer peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space without constantly monitoring for signs of pest damage.
However, while there are clear benefits to using preventative insecticides, it's crucial to consider the following:
- Environmental Impact: Always choose environmentally-friendly insecticides when possible. This is why Acelepryn is so great, it's environmentally friendly and doesn't have any impact on bees.
- Application Timing: For Acelepryn to be effective, it needs to be applied at the right time, often early in the pest's life cycle or just before they become active. I'd recommend applying at the end of August/ Start of September.
Hopefully that clears some questions up for you about how to best start off your lawn care season every August. If you need any further help, reach out to Talor or myself at orders@lawntips.net
Thanks,
Ben Sims