Weeds are annoying and unsightly guests on any lawn, harming the health of your grass and bringing down the curb appeal of your property in Delaware or Pennsylvania. There are two kinds of weed control treatments that are essential for achieving a weed-free lawn: pre-emergent and post-emergent. Pre-emergent weed control prevents weeds from sprouting through the soil by creating a barrier between them and the surface. Meanwhile, post-emergent weed control kills any existing weeds so they don't steal nutrients from your grass. If you want a lawn completely free of weeds, you'll have to utilize both pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments. Pre-emergent weed control only prevents weeds, and post-emergent can only get rid of any existing growth, so both have to work in tandem in order for you to achieve a lawn free of these pesky nutrient thieves.

What is pre-emergent weed control?

Lawn care professional applying pre-emergent weed control to a lawn in Yardley, PA.

Pre-emergent weed control is a preventative treatment that keeps weeds from sprouting on your lawn. Lawn professionals will typically spread it across your entire lawn for full coverage. This blanket treatment acts as a barrier in the soil and, while weed seeds may still germinate, they won’t be able to break through the surface and grow. However, time is essential, as they need to be applied at the right time to ensure it's effective. So, pre-emergent weed control should typically be applied in the spring to get ahead of a certain point in the weed life cycle and keep them from sprouting.

Common weeds here in Delaware and Pennsylvania are dandelions, wild violet, crabgrass, ground ivy, and clovers.

What is post-emergent weed control?

Lawn care technician applying post-emergent weed control to a dandelion weed in Newtown, PA.

Post-emergent weed control is a curative treatment that will kill any weeds that have already broken through the soil and started growing on your lawn. Lawn care professionals typically apply this as a spot treatment and target the weeds directly instead of applying it across your entire lawn. You’ll want to start using post-emergent weed control treatments whenever you see weeds sprouting on your lawn. It’s best to take care of them ASAP so they don’t have a chance to harm your grass. Weeds will often sprout on your lawn whenever they get the chance, so these treatments will need to be utilized throughout the growing season.

Why do you need both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control?

Both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control are essential to achieving a weed-free lawn. Pre-emergent weed control prevents weeds from sprouting, but it doesn’t take care of any that have already grown through the soil. Similarly, post-emergent weed control treatments kill any existing weeds, but they don’t prevent new ones from sprouting. You would have to keep frequently applying post-emergent weed control treatments to get rid of all the weeds as they continue to sprout. When they work in tandem, pre-emergent weed control will stop the weeds from sprouting and post-emergents will eliminate any that were already past a certain point in their growth cycle and weren't affected by the former treatment. That way, you’ll be able to have a beautiful, weed-free lawn.

Call us today to sign up for our weed control program!

Do you want a weed-free lawn? If so, we're here to help! At Delaware Valley Turf, we offer our weed control program that includes both pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments to ensure that your lawn is free from pesky, nutrient-stealing weeds. Our weed control program also includes fertilization treatments to ensure your grass is healthy and strong throughout the year.

We provide our weed control program to properties in Wilmington, DE, as well as areas in Pennsylvania, such as Doylestown and Bryn Mawr. Call us at (610) 328-4170 to sign up for our weed control program today!