Weeds are pesky plants that tarnish the appearance of your lawn and compete with your grass for key resources, such as nutrients and sunlight. If left untreated, weeds can spread throughout your lawn and ruin your property's curb appeal. But that doesn't have to be the case. You can keep your lawn in Virginia weed-free with pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control treatments.

Pre-emergent treatments prevent weeds from breaching the surface of your soil, while post-emergent treatments eliminate weeds once they have already popped up on your lawn. To get the best results at your property, you should use both pre-emergent and post-emergent treatments. Post-emergents can be applied throughout the year to get rid of weeds as they appear. Pre-emergents, on the other hand, should be applied in the spring for maximum impact. Continue reading to learn more about these weed control treatments and why you need them!

What is pre-emergent weed control, and how does it work?

Our weed control professional spraying our client's lawn for weeds in Falls Church, VA.

Pre-emergent weed control treatments enable you to combat weed development proactively. These treatments prevent weeds from breaching the surface of your soil and popping up on your lawn. Pre-emergent treatments are usually applied to your entire lawn to form a barrier against weeds. While they don't interrupt weed seed germination, they do stop weeds from emerging. Thanks to pre-emergent weed control treatments, you won't have to worry about your lawn becoming overrun by weeds later on down the road.

Pre-emergent weed control treatments are highly effective at targeting crabgrass and other weeds.

What is post-emergent weed control, and how does it work?

Post emergent being applied to a dandelion in a lawn by a professional in Arlington, VA.

Post-emergent weed control treatments allow you to combat weed growth reactively. These treatments eliminate weeds once they have already pushed through the surface of your soil and taken residence on your lawn. If you spot weeds in your grass, all you need to do is spray them with a post-emergent herbicide. The herbicide, or weedkiller, will be absorbed by the weeds and eradicate them within a few days. Post-emergent weed control treatments enable you to stay on top of weeds as they emerge so they don't overtake your lawn.

Why do you need to use pre- and post-emergent weed control, and when should the treatments be applied?

You can only treat your lawn with pre-emergent weed control treatments. Or, you can only treat your lawn with post-emergent weed control treatments. To get the best results, however, you should use both types of treatments in tandem with each other.

Using both pre- and post-emergent weed control allows you to attack weeds from all angles so you can enjoy a weed-free lawn throughout the year. Pre-emergent treatments should be applied in the spring at the start of the growing season and will greatly limit the number of weeds that ever appear on your lawn. Meanwhile, post-emergent treatments should be applied throughout the year and will swiftly eliminate any weeds that happen to rear their head in your grass.

Want a weed-free lawn? Call to sign up for our professional weed control service today!

Do you want a weed-free lawn? If so, you have come to the right place. At Hambleton Lawn & Landscape, we offer our professional weed control service to residential property owners in Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, and nearby cities in Virginia. Our 6-step weed control program runs from early February to late December and features both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control treatments.

We apply post-emergent treatments throughout the year but only apply pre-emergent treatments in the spring. Our herbicide applications target common weeds like crabgrass, dandelion, clover, and many others. If you're ready to get started, call us today at (703) 532-4911 to sign up for our professional weed control service!