What Herbicides Should I Use to Control Lawn and Garden Weeds?

Herbicides come in handy when other methods of clearing out weeds simply aren't up to the job. Two types of herbicides are available. Preemergent herbicides are best for eliminating sprouting annual weeds. Their downside is that not all weeds can be killed by them. Postemergent herbicides will not be effective until the weed has entered its dormant season.

Ammonium sulfamate is a remedial postemergent herbicide that is not selective in the weeds that it kills. The mode of attack is systemic, meaning that it attacks the roots of the weeds. Ammonium sulfamate should be used in the spring and fall and is best utilized in connection with vine and woody plants.

2,4-D is another remedial postemergent herbicide. This herbicide also attacks the system by focusing on the roots. 2,4-D should be applied to lawns during the spring or fall unless you've got St. Augustine, bentgrass or centipede grass. If the weeds you are planning to attack have broad leaves, 2,4-D is one of the most effective herbicides you can find.

Dicamba is sometimes used in connection with 2,4-D. This is a postemergent targeted herbicide that goes after the weed's roots. Spring and fall are the best time to apply dicamba. Like 2,4-D, dicamba is also a good choice for attacking weeds with broad leaves.

Mecoprop is often used in connection with either dicamba or 2,4-D. Mecoprop is a postemergent selective herbicide kills broad-leafed weeds. Using mecoprop alone and without the assistance of dicamba or 2,4-D may require a permit.

CDPA is a pre-emergent selectively targeted herbicide used in early spring or late fall. CDPA is an herbicide that can be used on lawns as well as in garden. This herbicide is sometimes used in conjunction with fertilizer. It is an excellent choice for killing germinating grass-type weeds, but is less effective the others mentioned here on broad-leafed weeds.

Glyphosate is a remedial postemergent root-attacking herbicide that is best utilized against woody plants and woody vines. Glyphosate can take care of both your grass type and broad-leaf weeds.

Siduron is another preemergent herbicide that selectively kills germinating grass-type weeds. Use siduron during the early spring or late fall for lawns. Keep this one away from St. Augustine, centipede and zoysia grass. Siduron is very often used in conjunction with fertilizer.

Triclopyr is yet another remedial herbicide. It is a non-selective untargeted herbicide that targets the roots of weeds. Triclopyr is used in the spring and fall and is best used for attacking woody plants and vines.