Now is the time to apply a pre-emergent to your lawn so you do not have any winter weeds in your yard.
A pre-emergent prevents weed seeds and other seeds from germinating. It forms a coating around the seeds to prevent them from germinating.
The pre-emergent does not know the difference between a good seed and a bad seed, so if you are going to overseed your lawn with ryegrass for winter, it needs to be done before you apply the pre-emergent.
Several different chemicals will do this for you and one organic product.
All these products are applied dry with the use of a fertilizer spreader, either a drop or a cyclone. Read and follow the label directions for the setting of the spreader, and protective clothing may also be needed.
One of the chemical pre-emergents is Portrait, which when applied according to the directions will control dandelions, clover, oxalis, and other weeds listed on the label.
Another pre-emergent is Dimension. This will help with crabgrass, annual grassy weeds, Sand bur and others listed on the label.
Balan and Surflan are used to control annual grasses and certain broad leaf weeds.
A prepackaged mix of Balan and Treflan is another pre-emergent. Read and follow label directions because the dust from these chemicals can cause eye and nose irritation.
Protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants are recommended.
An Iowa State University study that started in the 1990s showed that corn gluten meal is an effective pre-emergent for crabgrass and other weeds.
It is a natural product and a byproduct of the process to be used as a feed supplement for cattle. It will take time and patience for corn gluten meal to eliminate most weeds.
One of the Iowa State studies showed that it will reduce the crabgrass by 50 percent in the first year of application.
Powdered corn gluten meal is the best for weed control needs to be applied at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. It can be applied with a fertilizer spreader the same way chemical controls are.
Whichever control you decide to use, please make sure you read and follow the label directions. May these tips help you enjoy the time in your garden.
Information included in this article is from the www.hort.isu.edu Web site and the Greenlight and Fertilome Web sites.
For information on this or any gardening topic contact the Johnson County Master Gardener Assocation at www.jcmga.org or call Pat Kriener at 817-793-4625.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only. References to products and trade names are for identification only and do not imply endorsement or criticism of similar products by Johnson County Master Gardener Association or the Texas Cooperative Extension.
Joyce Block is a Johnson County Master Gardener Wild Bunch Writer and lives in Alvarado.
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