With spring, warmer temps come not just in the air but in the soil beneath us.

Soil temperature (50 degrees+) is the main trigger for plants to break dormancy but also…most importantly, (weed) seed germination.

Lawn care programs dictate applying pre-emergent type products to keep certain weeds from invading our turf grass but we also need to consider what we are doing to control weeds in our gardens and landscaping. Mulhing is the back bone of weed control as well as other healthy attributes but what else?

Let’s break it into the two most basic methods:

  1. Pre-emergent-either chemical or organic (corn gluten for instance)
  2. Post emergent

Pre-emergent will suppress seed germination in the soil. The two brand name products most widely used in ornamental landscaping are SNAPSHOT 25TG and
the retail products containing TREFLAN as the main ingredient such as PREEN.

Now each works best when applied per the labels instruction every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season which is the same for any organic product.

Post emergent controls are implemented once the weed has emerged. Now from a chemical approach, – the use we have ROUND UP (glyphosate) which has
gained a very bad reputation primarily because of its over use and the false believe that it is safer to use than other chemicals. (All chemicals should be
handled according to label pre cautions and used only as needed). Glyphosates will kill all vegetation except for GMO crops – one reason we use it sparingly.

We also use some specialized herbicides for the near impossible weeds to control that will not affect the desirable plants in our landscapes. LONTREL – SEDGE
HAMMER is two we use for Canada thistle and nut sedges.

Now for the Truth about the most popular organic method the use of VINEGAR (white) oh boy this will be hard to swallow but using vinegar as weed control in
the landscape is NOT a good idea. Unfortunately vinegar is an acid and has a VERY high toxicity. These ‘natural’ recipes often include the use of salt and soap
– seemingly innocuous but toxic to most plant and organisms in our soil.

Vinegar will only burn foliage allowing the roots to regrow in most cases which lends itself to repeat applications which over time can and will cause your
soil to become more acidic as well as allowing salts build up in the soil profile. Vinegars toxicity we also destroy insects’ exoskeletons along with the oil –
wicking properties of dish soaps ALL dish soaps.

Long story short – coming up with a plan for weed control that fits your comfort zone either done using chemicals judiciously when needed to gain control
along with the old school hand pulling as well as other prevention methods, can insure a beautiful landscape free of ugly weeds (mis placed plants).

Drop me a line or reach out to our local Penn State extension office for more weed control methods.