Winter weeds, such as annual bluegrass (poa annua), chickweed, henbit, as well as some perennial weeds, such as clover and dandelion, must have several consecutive days of fall soil temperatures below 70 degrees before they germinate. During the fall, winter weeds will germinate only to appear during early winter.
When to Apply Fall Pre-emergent
It is important to apply fall pre-emergent at the right time based on the average soil temperature at your location. If you apply it too late, once the winter weeds germinate, pre-emergent is no longer effective at controlling the weeds, but if you apply fall pre-emergent too early in the season, the product will become less effective when it is needed most to prevent winter weeds. Read our Tip to learn how does pre-emergent work. For best results, apply fall pre-emergent 14 days before your soil temperature averages 70 degrees for 3 consecutive days.
How to Determine Your Soil Temperature
Our website has a Soil Temperature and Rainfall Calculator for your use. Just choose your city from our list at the bottom of any page and scroll doe to Soil Temperature. Or, simply use a meat thermometer inserted 2” into the soil twice a day to get your current average. For example, 7am and 7pm.
As a ZipLawn Lawn Care Service customer we will actively monitor the soil temeratures at your home so you can rest assured that your fall pre-emergent is applied at the right time to help prevent unsightly winter weeds. Call or click today for a Free Quote!