Weeds - General Information
Back to Weeds

  (April) I need advice. I have spent the last month pulling spring weeds out of my many flower beds. I plan to put down mulch as I did last year but want to know if I can use a pre-emergent weed killer to prevent these weeds from returning again next year? I have hesitated to poison because of wildflowers and perennials I have that re-seed. I would appreciate your thoughts.

  Weeds can be a real problem in flower beds, but use caution with the pre-emergent herbicides. Just like lawn weeds, there are winter and summer weeds. The products to prevent them need to be applied for each season -- October for the winter weeds and March for summer. However, the way the pre-emergent products work is preventing weed seeds from germinating. It can also keep flower seeds from germinating. Remember that it only works on annual weeds. If you have Bermuda grass, nutgrass, or other perennial weeds, the pre-emergent products are no good. Since you also have plants that you want to grow from seed, I would opt for a good hoe, and mulch. Probably not what you wanted to hear!

  (October) I was hoping you could recommend an herbicide. My yard borders a ravine and we have decorative rocks expending down a slope. Numerous weeds, vines, etc have taken over and I want to kill everything growing.

  Probably your best bet is either a glyphosate product (Round-up, etc.) or Brush-b-gone. Be sure to read and follow the label directions to protect any desirable vegetation nearby. following our good rain, the plants (weeds) should have perked up enough to hopefully take in enough chemical to kill them. Fall is often a good time to kill perennial weeds, since they are preparing for winter and storing reserves in their root system. On tougher weeds, you may need to reapply next spring.

  (November) I have several very large perennial beds which I mulch each year. However, I have to spend an inordinate amount of time weeding. I have noticed that you mention using a pre-emergent herbicide. When should I apply that (how early?? I see weeds beginning in Feb. sometime) and what brand names should I look for? I am assuming that if applied correctly and at the correct time, I will not have harm to my plants.

  There are numerous pre-emergent herbicides on the market including Surflan, Preen, Barricade, and Treflan. These products only work on annual weeds not perennials like Bermuda grass, nutsedge and the like. If annual weeds are your primary concern, then applying these products in Feb, or March would be effective. This will work on the summer annual weeds. If you see weeds in February, these are cool season weeds, and pre-emergent products can be applied in October and early November. If you have perennials that reseed themselves each year, pre-emergent products would not be a good idea, since the herbicides would interfere with their germination just like they would the weed seeds. The herbicides will not hurt established plants. Do read and follow label directions.

  (December) I would like to know the name of the poison you recommended to eliminate the grass in flower beds. When should I apply it?

  There are several common trade names, including: Grass-b-gone, Over the top, Poast, etc. You must wait for the grass to be actively growing, so wait until late April or May before applying. These products only kill grass, and the grass must be green and growing to work. It is best to catch the grass right as it begins to run, after it has fully greened up. While it will work later in the growing season, you are often left with so much dead grass, that it can look as bad as the green stuff.

Back to Weeds