What to Do if You Miss the Pre-Emergent Window

Spring doesn’t wait, and neither do weeds.

As soil temperatures have climbed past 55°F, crabgrass and many other annual weeds begin germinating. If you haven’t applied a pre-emergent yet, there’s a good chance weeds are already developing below the surface, or even starting to show above ground.

So where does that leave you? Not out of options, but it does mean it’s time to adjust your approach.

Pre-emergent herbicides work by forming a barrier in the soil that stops weeds before they sprout. Once germination begins, that barrier becomes far less effective. That’s why timing is everything, and why a late application won’t deliver the same results as one applied right on schedule.

If you're late to apply, your best bet is switching to Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food instead of Barricade.

Why make the switch?
The key difference is the active ingredient: dithiopyr. The active in Barricade (prodiamine) has a long-residual. Meaning, when applied at the appropriate time, it can have a longer lasting effect. Dithiopyr, the active in Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food, doesn't have as long of a residual but does have some ability to provide very early post-emergent crabgrass control. That means it can control crabgrass not just before it germinates, but also right as it’s beginning to sprout.

Even with that advantage, this is still a backup plan so it's important to set the right expectations. Control may be inconsistent and its going to be even more important to ensure full coverage when applying and watering-in deep afterwards.

For most homeowners, the better move now is to pivot your strategy from prevention to control and competition. Here's what to you can do next.

Start Fertilizing
A thick, healthy lawn is your best natural defense against weeds. Applying fertilizer helps your turf fill in thin areas, outcompete emerging weeds for nutrients and sunlight and recover faster from early-season stress.

This is where a quality fertilizer program really starts to pay off. A customer favorite for spring applications is Core 12-8-12. You can also use a soil test to receive fertilizer recommendations specific to your lawn.

Go After Existing Weeds
If weeds have already emerged, it’s time to bring in a post-emergent herbicide. Post-emergents are designed to target actively growing weeds. A few important things to remember when applying pre-emergents:

• Always check the label to make sure the weeds in your lawn are listed. Not all herbicides control all weeds.
• Always check the label for application instructions. Application methods for granular pre-emergents are different that application mentods for post-emergents. Here’s a helpful post-emergent application guide.
• Post-emergent products typically require multiple applications to get visible weeds under control.

Many customers prefer Surge Weed and Feed as their post-emergent product since it combines weed control and fertilization into one application. It’s important to note that Surge will not control crabgrass. If crabgrass is your main concern, you should consider using a liquid like Quintessential.

Missing the pre-emergent window isn’t ideal, but it’s far from the end of the road. While much of lawn care is about preparation and timing, it’s also about adapting when conditions change.

Continue to stay proactive, adjust your plan, and remember to have fun with it! You have a game plan in place and you can still set your lawn up for a strong season ahead.

Still not sure what to do next or need help identifying the weeds in your lawn? Our customer service team is here to help.