10 Tips for Applying Post-Emergent Herbicide

What happens when you made plans to apply pre-emergent herbicide to your yard to stop weeds before they can grow, procrastinated, and now weeds have grown up everywhere they might as well be growing inside your house too? That's when you want to consider applying a post-emergent herbicide product! These products actually work by destroying weeds that are even well-established. But because they are so powerful, you want to be careful in your usage of them. Here are tips for proper and efficient use.

Tip #1: Make sure it kills what you want it to. This means reading labels thoroughly. Some simply target certain weeds, while other kill everything that is green. If you have other plants that you cherish, don't use non-selective herbicides!

Tip #2: Don't get discouraged. Wind is a carrier of new seeds, and new seeds can be blown into your yard from nearby areas and via birds. If you want to keep a grip on your lawn all summer, and plan on using the herbicide more than once, you may want to consider using a natural and less-harmful product that can be made from simple ingredients like vinegar and different oils.

Tip #3: Use post-emergent herbicides in the fall months. This can keep weeds like dandelion at bay for the next season.

Tip #4: Don't use chemical variety herbicides if you have pets frequently roaming your yard. Cats, especially, love to eat grass to flush out hairballs, and you do not want to chance them eating the herbicide that has been sprayed on your weeds. If you do have animals roaming, it's best to use a natural variety of herbicide that is pet and kid friendly! AllAboutLawns.com recommends using a simple white vinegar solution - it's safe and very inexpensive and it won't damage the quality of your soil in the long-run.

Tip #5: Do a little research and find the best weed killer for your problem. Some great recommendations that won't waste your money are Roundup (a non-selective weed killer) which works great around driveways, etc.; and Weed Free Zone (a selective weed killer). Ask lots of questions when you visit stores like Lowes.

Tip #6: Decide whether your lawn looks bad because of weeds or because of insect damage. It may be insects that are making things look grubby, and you may prefer to switch to an insecticide.

Tip #7: If you are using a chemical post-herbicide product, please make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands. If not properly handled, it can be toxic and damaging.

Tip #8: If you have a new lawn, perhaps from recent new construction,herbicides should not be used on new lawns until they are fully established. Wait at least four mowings later to apply any herbicide.

Tip #9: Do not spray herbicides on a windy days! It can travel and get into people's eyes, and can get on other plants.

Tip #10: Always make sure to properly dispose of used herbicide containers and spray-nozzles after use. Read labels on the product to find out recommendations for doing this.