A pre-emergent is a chemical that prevents seeds from germinating. If you wait until after they sprout, the pre-emergent doesn’t work.

Therefore, it’s important to know when winter weeds (chickweed, henbit, annual bluegrass) sprout and when summer weeds (crabgrass, goosegrass, etc) germinate.

Here’s all you need to know for the metro Atlanta area:

Typically, apply fall pre-emergent between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1 to control winter weeds. Specifically, apply when soil temperature at 2″ is 70 degrees and declining.

Apply spring pre-emergent between March 1 and March 15 to control summer weeds. Specifically, apply when soil temperature at 2″ is 55 degrees and rising.

Remember that pre-emergents have to be “watered in” with rain or irrigation within a week after application.

BY Walter Reeves – The Georgia Gardner