Which Weed Killer?

            When it comes to springtime nuisances, nothing can be more of an eyesore than weeds in your yard. But we both know they do not stop there. You are just as likely to see a weed in your flower bed or poking its head out in your driveway just to catch some rays. There are literally thousands of species of weeds worldwide and while some are more common than others, you may not always encounter the same ones. And because learning every species of weed that can invade your lawn and landscaping would be an arduous task to say the least, I would say having a good grasp on the different types of available weed killers will go a long way in helping you to determine which product is right for you.

            If herbicides were anything similar to the animal kingdom, then the three broadest categories would be: Pre-emergent, Post-emergent, and soil sterilants. Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to hinder growth of weeds. It does this by penetrating the soil and hindering seeds of plants from germinating. Pre-emergent herbicides usually have a residual, meaning that once applied, if done so properly, it will remain in the soil and continue to be effective for a period of time. Most people will apply pre-emergent herbicides such as Oryzalin 4, three times a year. There are two important things to remember when using pre-emergent herbicides: 1. they can be applied over any existing plant life, whether it is grass or ornamental shrubs and flowers. 2. Pre-emergents only keep weeds from germinating. If you spray a pre-emergent herbicide over existing weeds, it will not do anything to help remove them.

            The next type of herbicide is a post-emergent herbicide. Post-emergent herbicides are designed to kill weeds once they have already made their presence known. This type of weed killer will not prevent any new plant growth. A product like Clear Pasture is a great choice for someone who wants to eliminate existing weeds in yards. Within the family of post-emergent herbicides there are two classes: selective and non-selective. A great example of a non-selective would be Round Up. We have all seen the commercials of the guy hovering over weeds that have grown up through the expansion joints in the driveway. Non-selective herbicides are great for eliminating weeds in places where you are not concerned with what the product lands on. On the other hand a selective herbicide is the type you will want to use in areas that you want to kill the weeds but not other plant life such as grass. Most selective herbicides specifically target broadleaf weeds. Common examples of broadleaf weeds are clover, dandelions and poison ivy for instance.

            The last category of herbicides is called soil sterilants.  These are almost never used in residential areas and depending on the active ingredients, some soil sterilants will keep any plant life from growing for up to eight months. Soil sterilants not only keep new plants and grasses from growing, but also eliminate any existing plant life.

            Herbicides are important tools for lawns and landscaping in all situations. They are also very easily misused. Be sure to read the label instructions on any product you intend to use to ensure you will not kill any plant you do not want to.