MEEKS: Prevent summer weeds now

As I write this article, I am sitting in my toasty office getting ready to tell you about controlling summer weeds. It's hard to believe that it's time to start thinking about summer weed control when it's 30 degrees outside, but it's true.

One way to battle summer weeds in your turf is with a pre-emergent herbicide. This type of herbicide keeps the weed seed from finishing germinating. If the weed can already be seen, it's too late to apply a pre-emergent herbicide. Because of this, these herbicides must be applied during a narrow window of time, roughly Feb. 15 to March 15.

So what is a weed and why is it a problem in our turf? Weeds by definition are a plant that's out of place, causes economic loss, whose virtues have not been discovered or an invasive plant. We control weeds to maintain landscape beauty, prevent economic loss and decrease plant competition.

Weeds can also be a host for disease and insects. Before applying a pre-emergent herbicide, or any herbicide for that matter, the weed and the type of grass in your lawn needs to be identified. Some herbicides are more effective on some weed species than others, and some herbicides will cause damage to certain grass types. Contact your county agent for help in weed identification and herbicide recommendation.

Pre-emergent herbicides primarily control summer annual weeds such as crabgrass, goosegrass and spurges. Post-emergent herbicides can control these weeds as well, but pre-emergent treatments offer some advantages. Since pre-emergent herbicides are applied prior to seed germination, you never see the weed emerge. Many formulations come in granular form that many home-owners find easier to apply. Most ornamentals can tolerate pre-emergent herbicides, except atrazine. If the right pre-emergent herbicide is used, there is no injury to established turf. Pre-emergent herbicides should only be applied to turf that has been established for a minimum of one year.

If a few weeds still manage to escape your pre-emergent treatment, you can always clean them up with a post-emergent herbicide. Once again, weed identification and turf type play a factor in good control avoiding turf injury.

There are other things you can do to your lawn to help control weeds that do not involve herbicides. The first line of defense in weed control is healthy, vigorous growing turf. Now, this does not mean that you need to fertilize and over-water it, because that will actually cause other issues and decline.

Start with turf that is adapted to this area, which are warm-season grasses. Water your turf properly, which after establishment is one inch a week (including rainfall).

Fertilize your turf properly. A soil sample is a good place to start for a fertilization program. Many yards I look at are over-fertilized, which can cause disease.

Mow your lawn at the proper height. Different grass species require different mowing heights. And don't forget to control insects and disease within the turf.

Identifying your turf and weeds are important. Your extension office can help.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb. 23: Auxin-Tolerant Technologies, Vienna, 9 a.m.

March 4: Green Up, Macon, 9 a.m.

MIDDLE GEORGIA PRODUCTION MEETINGS

Feb. 17: Cotton production, Oglethorpe, noon

Feb. 25: Peanut production, Perry, noon

For more information, contact Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028 or visit the office at 801 Main St., Perry. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston for more news about your local Extension office.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 8:13 PM with the headline "MEEKS: Prevent summer weeds now ."