Fall in North Texas doesn’t always feel like fall. We can still experience temperatures well into the 80s and 90s while the rest of the country is pulling out sweaters and watching leaves change.
But underneath your lawn, a major seasonal change is already beginning.
As soil temperatures begin to decline, winter annual weeds prepare to germinate. That’s why one of the most important treatments we perform during the fall at America’s Best Lawncare is pre-emergent weed control.
What Is Pre-Emergent?
One of the biggest misconceptions about pre-emergent is that it kills weeds you can already see.
It doesn’t.
Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to target susceptible weeds during the germination and establishment process. This means timing is extremely important. Once many winter weeds are mature and visible throughout the lawn, the opportunity to prevent them has already passed.
Think of pre-emergent as putting a defensive barrier in place before the weeds become a problem.
Why We Use Specticle FLO
At America’s Best Lawncare, we believe the products we apply matter.
One of the professional-grade products we use in our weed-control program is Specticle® FLO, a pre-emergent herbicide containing the active ingredient indaziflam.
Specticle FLO provides broad-spectrum pre-emergent control of troublesome grassy and broadleaf weeds. It is labeled to control more than 60 broadleaf weeds as well as key grassy weeds, including annual bluegrass, commonly known as Poa annua.
Poa annua is one of the weeds North Texas homeowners frequently notice during the cooler months. It can stand out dramatically against dormant warm-season turf.
Fall Pre-Emergent Is Different From Spring Pre-Emergent
Applying pre-emergent in the spring doesn’t eliminate the need for a fall application.
That’s because we’re targeting different groups of weeds.
Spring pre-emergent primarily helps prevent warm-season annual weeds that germinate as soil temperatures rise.
Fall pre-emergent targets winter annual weeds that begin their life cycle as soil temperatures decline.
Common winter weeds can include:
- Annual bluegrass (Poa annua)
- Henbit
- Chickweed
- Rescuegrass
- Other winter annual grassy and broadleaf weeds
This is why year-round weed prevention requires more than one treatment window.
Timing Matters in Texas
You cannot simply look at the calendar and assume it’s time for pre-emergent.
North Texas weather changes from year to year. September may bring cooler weather one year and feel like the middle of summer the next.
Soil temperature, rainfall, weather patterns and turf conditions all influence weed germination.
Professional lawncare programs take these factors into consideration rather than treating every season exactly the same.
Why Can’t We Just Spray the Weeds Later?
Post-emergent weed control certainly has an important place in a lawncare program. However, preventing susceptible weeds before they become established is often much more effective than waiting until a lawn is covered with them.
Once weeds become established, treatment options may be more limited and results can vary depending on the weed, its maturity, weather conditions and the condition of the turf.
The goal isn’t simply to kill weeds.
The goal is to prevent as many of them as possible from becoming a problem in the first place.
Fall Lawncare Sets the Stage for Winter AND Spring
Your lawn may begin slowing down during fall, but your lawncare program shouldn’t stop.
The treatments performed during fall and winter play an important role in how your property looks while the turf is dormant and in preparing for the following growing season.
At America’s Best Lawncare, our lawncare program is designed around the changing needs of North Texas turf throughout the year. That includes professional-grade products, properly timed applications and both pre- and post-emergent weed management.
A beautiful spring lawn starts long before spring arrives.
America’s Best Lawncare, LLC Professional Lawncare & Weed Control for North Texas