Best Times To Spread Weed Control & Fertilization

Weeds are unwanted garden guests that compete with your plants and crops for nutrients. If you want to get rid of them effectively, professionals specializing in weed control in Bucks County tell us that timing is the key. 

Read on to find out the best times to spread weed control and fertilization.

The Importance of Fertilizers and Weed Killers

Like the human body, lawns need nutrients. The most common nutrients that they need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). As these are not often readily and abundantly available, fertilizers are actually used to supplement the soil. Similar to the way we supplement our diets with calcium for stronger bones.

Lawn and grass fertilization is important in expediting the greening of your lawn and improving turf health. And depending on your lawn’s situation, you have to choose fertilizers accordingly. For example, if your plants have become yellowish, it means that your soil lacks either nitrogen or potassium — or both. Meanwhile, if they have hints of blue-green, it’s an indication that they need more phosphorous. 

Similar to fertilizers, weed killers are a must-have for any gardener. Businesses that sell weed control products can often help gardeners identify the specific weeds that plague their lawns and recommend the most appropriate products. 

There are different weed killers available, including pre- or post-emergent weed killers. The former kills weeds even before they emerge while the latter combats weeds that have already come up. 

When To Apply Fertilizers and Weed Preventers

If you ask any fertilizing company in Bucks County, you’d know that time is of the essence when combatting weeds through fertilizers and weed preventers. 

When using pre-emergent weed control, you have to take note when lawn weeds begin to sprout. Weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass grow during summer and germinate during spring and winter. To effectively hinder their growth, you have to apply weed control in early spring. 

In terms of using post-emergent weed killers, you have to apply them to your lawn during the active growth phase of a weed. You have to further consider the air temperature — experts recommend using these killers when the temperature falls in the 60 to 80-degree Fahrenheit range. 

Apart from temperature, make sure to apply weed control when the weather is generally calm (e.g., not before heavy rains). Monitor weather forecasts and choose a day when it’s unlikely to rain for at least six hours. 

Now, when it comes to applying fertilizers, there are four timings that you need to bear in mind. First is early spring — just in time when lawns are becoming active again after the wintry months. When you fertilize them during this time, you’ll help strengthen the roots of your plants. 

The second is late spring. At this point, your plants are busy and in need of additional nourishment to produce a better yield. Fertilizing during summer is also beneficial. With strong heat-depleting nutrients and ushering drought, it’s only high time to supply your lawn with the fuel it needs to boost its growth. 

Lastly, you’re also advised to fertilize in fall or the season after summer. As a landscaper serving lower Bucks County, we see the fall as the season to recover from harsh summers. It is also the best time to do tree stump grinding and seeding and sod installation before winter months.