It can be difficult keeping weeds at bay between services. Herbicides are a cost-effective solution when used correctly. To get the most benefit from your weed spraying, our team here at New Season recommends these eight tips for cost-effective weed control.
1. Properly Identify the Problem
Identifying the problem might be a given, but your choice of herbicide and application will vary by weed species. Here are the most common herbicides you’ll encounter and the cases best used:
- Pre-emergent: works by preventing seed germination. They’re best used as a preventative spot-treatment in weedy patches, during winter or the summer dormant season.
- Post-emergent: works by interrupting photosynthesis, protein production or root growth. It’s best applied when then plant is actively growing or during the fall when plants are storing their nutrients in the roots.
- Selective: targets certain plants by identifying specific enzymes or chemical makeup. Most often, selective herbicides are designed to target monocots like grasses.
- Non-selective: kills any plant it comes in contact with and should only be used for spot-treatment.
- Total Vegetation: kills all plants and sterilizes the ground for a certain period of time.
- Combination: contains more than one post-emergent, nonselective herbicide. It’s designed to kill plants it comes in contact with and sterilize the ground up to one year.
2. Study Your Environmental Needs
It’s important to take soil residual activity and plant residue into consideration. For example, any grasses treated with soil residual herbicide may carry residue that can be transferred to the soil. Likewise, plants will have different needs — both environmental and application. Here’s a great resource to refer to. Or, if you’re trying to grow a specific plant or crop, give our New Season team a call and we’d be happy to provide a few pointers.
3. Assess the Growth Setbacks
Oklahoma experiences a wide span of weather. During summer, drought-stressed and mature weeds are more difficult to control. Additionally, your spray’s effectiveness might be produced without adequate moisture. If you’re using a non-selective, total vegetation or combination herbicide, we suggest holding off unless you’re willing to increase the affected range.
4. Create a Customized Plan of Action
Develop and center your maintenance program around the most problematic aspects of your landscaping. Based on the weed type and growth rate, some areas may require little maintenance while others may require regular servicing.
5. Use a Calibrated Sprayer
We recommend using a calibrated sprayer whenever possible. It’ll prevent waste and over-application while giving you more control over the herbicide.
6. Follow the Directions Closely
Follow label directions for application and mixing.
It’s so easy to discard directions as “mere guidelines.” But trust us, it’ll mean the difference between a green lawn and a patched up mess. If you’re spraying a garden, you’ll want to incorporate these six methods into your weed control routine.
If you’re simply zapping weeds from your grass, these are the 12 most common weeds and how to get rid of them. To return your lawn to a green masterpiece, we recommend using biosolid fertilizers containing iron.
7. Spray at the Correct Rate
It’s important to not only spray during the right time of year but also the correct rate. Weeds are most susceptible early in the season when they’re actively growing and moisture’s present in the soil. If you conduct maintenance during this time, you may enjoy several weeks without weed growth.
8. Know When to Call in Reinforcements
Trying to take care of weed control yourself can turn into a full-time job. And between weekly trips to the supply store and cost of materials, it can be a real balancing act. If you’re dealing with pesky weeds, know that New Season is by your side. Our Six Easy Application will get your lawn weed-free and beautiful just in time for spring. Give us a call New Season at (405) 824-8353 for more details!
