The Reasons Why Weed Killer Is Prioritized in a Lawn Treatment Plan in Poughkeepsie NY

Every homeowner with a lawn knows about the trials and tribulations of maintaining healthy grass. Part of the struggle of establishing and continuing a successful lawn is eliminating weeds that may take crucial resources from the grass and make an inhospitable environment for turf growth. Most lawn service professionals recommend using various types of weed killer throughout the year. Here are the reasons why weed killer is prioritized in a lawn treatment plant in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Related: Why You Should Include Weed Killer and Fertilizer in Your Lawn Care Plan in Westchester County, NY

The Nature of Weeds

Weeds are simply opportunists. They have developed the ability to grow quickly and robustly in harsh conditions such as areas with high sun exposure, low moisture, and heavy foot traffic. While these plants do have some benefits in nature, they are considered invasive pests in most landscapes. In your lawn, weeds will sprout in any soil possible and will take advantage of the smallest rays of sunlight to break through the canopy of your grass. Once they’ve reached the surface, it’s off to the races, as most weeds go to seed quickly.

In a healthy lawn with a strong and thick canopy, the weed seedlings won’t be able to find sunlight and will quickly die off. Those that have found sunlight will shoot to the surface. These plants will pull nutrients and moisture from the soil, stunting the growth of your grass. They will grow even stronger and more populous as the soil becomes more exposed. Your lawn will simply become overrun with weeds if the problem isn’t controlled.

Once you have a population of weeds, you’ll need to act quickly. Luckily, weeds prioritize their resources in going to seed.

Pre-Emergent Weed Killer

In spring, your lawn care professionals will treat your lawn with a pre-emergent weed killer to eliminate any germinating weeds. This will take care of most of the weed seeds already present in the lawn, but it won’t be effective on seeds that blow in or are carried in by pets: these will often grow; and while a few lone weeds can be pulled by hand, it’s not something you want to do if your lawn is covered in weeds.

Post-Emergent Weed Killer

Pulling weeds is hard work, and it’s ineffective. Unless you get the entire root of each plant - and its many cousins which may be in various stages of growth - the weeds will simply come back. If you don’t remove the root bulb and the majority of the roots, it’ll just grow right back into place. Many of the young weeds growing beneath your grass canopy will take just a few days to show themselves. Doing this work is extremely labor intensive and yields poor results.

Post-emergent weed killer will ensure that your lawn stays weed-free by killing weeds that have already leafed out (and hopefully, before they have gone to seed).

While weed killer is available in plant nurseries and garden centers, it must be applied with care. Different concentrations have different effects on each species of weed and grass. High concentrations of weed killer can be toxic, and improper application could damage the surrounding landscape. Proper application of weed killer isn’t a one-time thing in early spring; it’s an ongoing process that is targeted at the life stages of various weeds. Let the pros handle it, and simply enjoy a lush, green canopy of lawn.

Related: When Is a Good Time to Use Fertilizer on your Chappaqua or Westchester County, NY Lawn?