Weeds are the bane of any gardening or lawn enthusiast but with the proper weed killers, or herbicides, controlling weeds can be easier than you may think. When familiarizing yourself with the variety of weed killers at the lawn and garden store, read the labels carefully to determine their intended use and the recommended application methods and quantities. With weed killers, remember that more is not better. Many a discouraged gardener has over-enthusiastically waged war on weeds only to be horrified that they’ve damaged their precious flowers, vegetables or grass.
Before you decide what type of herbicide to purchase, you need to determine what it is you’re trying to eliminate from your garden or yard. Go online, consult a book or bring a sample of the offending weed to your local gardening specialist to identify the culprit. You will then need to decide whether you need a post-emergent herbicide, which is applied after the weed has sprouted, or a pre-emergent herbicide, which prevents the weed from growing in the first place.
The most commonly used post-emergent herbicides contain glyphosphate, which are sprayed directly on the plant foliage and inhibit enzyme production, causing the plant to die right down to its roots. Be sure to read the label cautions carefully to avoid mishandling this powerful chemical, and don’t get any your grass or on the leaves of your flowers or vegetables at it will work just as effectively on them as it does on the weeds.
Pre-emergent herbicides are often used on lawns but they can be just as effective for flowerbeds and vegetable gardens. These herbicides work by forming a chemical barrier that prevents weed seeds from germinating. When using a pre-emergent herbicide, apply it last after tilling, planting and fertilizing to create an intact barrier for the most effective weed growth prevention.