Answer: NO, Over the last few years, there has been research that shows pre-emergence does not breakdown in the soil, until soil temperature rises.
In recent years, our winters here in the Triangle have been milder, providing an earlier warmup and earlier than normal crabgrass germination potential. Therefore, turf researchers/professors have instructed the industry to apply pre-emergence two weeks earlier than normal. It has been suggested that we leave the show and return to our businesses and begin making pre-emergent applications. All research suggests there is no loss of effectiveness applying earlier than later.
We have seen short cut Bermuda green up on golf courses in early February in recent years. Just think, soil temperatures were almost at thresholds for crabgrass germination between Christmas and New Year’s 2021.
Important Fact: Our winters are warming, 2019 was declared North Carolina’s warmest year in 125
years of record keeping. Scientists expect the warming to continue in North Carolina through this
century, in all seasons.
Applying pre-emergent earlier far exceeds the downside of applying pre-emergent late (after
crabgrass germination)
Answer: NO, Pre-emergent weed control can be applied at any temperature. As mentioned above, it will not break
down until soil temperature rises which by that time, it needs to be applied and working to prevent crabgrass
germination.
Answer: FALSE, It MUST rain, or you MUST Irrigate for pre-emergence to be effective. Pre-emergence forms a barrier in the top layer of the soil surface, if weeds do germinate in the soil they will die once they try growing through the pre-emergent barrier. It is not necessary pre-emergence be watered in immediately after application, but know it has to be watered in to become effective. Therefore, rainfall after application is considered a good thing.
Answer: NO, in all my years of experience, I simply have not seen that happen. Healthy turfgrass has leaves,
crowns and thatch that can hold the fertilizer from washing away. Fertilizer also needs to be watered in by rainfall or
irrigation to become effective. Dry fertilizer sitting on top does nothing for the plant.
– As A Client of Dorsey Lawn & Landscape You Can Expect –
Dorsey Lawn & Landscape is still fairly new in the Lawn Care World, while we do not have the
name and brand recognition as some of the larger companies in the areas. We aim to set ourselves
apart and continue to grow by always putting our customers first, being as transparent and informative as possible when it comes to your lawn services with Dorsey Lawn & Landscape. The decisions we make are based on our education, years of experience and recommendations from industry leaders. I have answered some of the most common questions we receive each year above.
I felt the need to do this, because if you search Lawn Care Near Me, it is possible to find old information or
misinformation. NC State has one of the leading Turf Research Centers in the world. Because many
of us graduated there, we have great relationships with those involved. We listen effectively to
changing guidelines, what may have been true 10-20 years ago, may not be what is recommended
today.
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