Centipede grass weed control

Have you ever wondered how all those weeds manage to pop up in the middle of your lawn? While it may be hard to believe, most weeds blow into your lawn as seeds and sprout the minute they fine enough bare soil, moisture and light to grow. This is true for both annual and perennial weeds. Annual weeds sprout, grow, flower, seed and die within one year. Perennial weeds sprout from a seed as well, but the weed plant

Weeds invade a centipede grass lawn for one reason: your lawn is not growing well. In fact, two of the most common reasons for weeds in a centipede grass lawn are drought and dense shade. It is not that drought and shade increase the number of weeds or weed seeds trying to creep into your lawn. Instead, drought and dense shade cause your centipede grass to thin thus offering weed seeds an open space to germinate and grow. Your particular trouble may be different. Soil compaction, cold damage, insect/disease damage, flooding steep slopes (causing dry soil), lack of fertilizer, and irregular pH can cause centipede grass to thin. The underlying point is that a thick, well grown stand of centipede grass is the first step to preventing weeds. It's not always that easy,, though. Weeds are a formidable enemy and most of us will have to include weed control as part of our lawn maintenance routine.

There are two ways to control weeds in a lawn as the weed seeds germinate and after the weeds have already sprouts and are growing. When using weed control products, always make sure the product you are using is approved for use on centipede grass. Some herbicides will be approved for use on Bermuda and zoysia, but not centipede grass. Follow the labeled directions. Do not apply more than the recommended rate it will not give you better results and may injure your lawn. Be very careful around ornamental planting as well because certain weed controls can damage them.

Pre emergence weed controls kill immature weds immediately after they germinate and before they emerge from the soil surface. Since annual weeds like annual bluegrass and henbit die and return from seed each year, a pre emergence weed control will eradicate them from your centipede grass lawn over several seasons. At the same time, it will prevent annual and perennial weed seeds that blow into your lawn from neighboring areas from emerging. Most pre emergence products are sold in a granular form (with or without fertilizer) that you spread using a fertilizer spreader. It is important to spread the chemical "wall to wall" at the recommended rate. Areas that are not covered will not be protected. After spreading the product, irrigate your lawn with at least .5 inches of water to activate the chemical (unless otherwise stated on the bag). Once activated, pre emergence weed controls create a chemical barrier in the upper inches of your lawn that will prevent weed seeds from germinating. Do not cultivate, core or spike aerate, or disturb the soil after treating your lawn that will disrupt your chemical barrier and open the soil to weed seed infiltration. Pre e mergence weed controls are usually effective for 2-3 months, depending on the temperature and amount of rainfall.

Post emergence weed controls kill weeds that are already growing in your lawn. These products are referred to as "selective" since they are targeted at specific annual and/or perennial weeds listed on the label. Usually, controls will either treat grassy weeds like crabgrass or broadleaf weeds like chickweed. Choose the weed control spray that best fits your needs. You may need to purchase a spray for each category of weeds. In most cases, post emergence products are designed to disrupt one of the weed's critical metabolic processes and should be sprayed when the weed is actively growing. If the weed is dormant because of cold weather or drought, it may not die. Post emergence products are most often sold as a liquid spray. The liquid sprays are very effective when weeds are young and actively growing. Spray on a still day when air temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees and the grass is dry. Avoid spraying during the 4-6 weeks in the spring when your centipede grass is greening up because they can harm tender, emerging centipede grass blades. Post emergence weed controls are sometimes sold in a granular form that should be spread with a fertilizer spreader when the grass is wet. The dry particles need moisture to adhere to the weed leaves.

There are other post emergence weed controls like Round Up that are not selective. The term non-selective means they will kill all vegetation including your centipede grass lawn. During the winter months, it is tempting to spray green weeds with Round up since your centipede lawn is brown. WATCH OUT! Centipede grass never becomes truly dormant during the winter months. Be very cautious and spray only the leaves of the weeds. Even then, expect some centipede grass in the vicinity to be killed as well.

The timing of weed control is critical. Pre emergence weed controls have to be applied before weed seeds germinate or they are useless. Post emergence weed control sprayer and granules have to be applied when the weeds are young, tender, and actively growing. It is better to be a little early rather than a little late.

Under normal conditions, a dense centipede grass lawn will remain weed free with two applications of granular pre emergence weed control (late winter and early fall) and spot treatments of problem weeds with post emergence weed control spray in mid-winter and early summer.

LATE WINTER: Apply pre emergence weed control without fertilizer when the soil temperature reaches a consistent 50 degrees. This is usually February/early March, with the Forsynthia is in bloom. This application will control annual and perennial weeds that germinate in the spring. Make sure the product is approved for centipede grass and apply at the rate recommend on the bag. Do not core/spike aerate for 3 months after you apply pre emergence weed control (you can use lazyman liquid aerator or lazyman liquid gold) because it will affect the chemical barrier. Irrigate after applying unless otherwise stated on the bag. Again, do not use a pre emergence weed control that contains fertilizer. If you fertilize now you might stimulate your lawn to break dormancy during a warm spell, only to be damaged by freezing temperatures.

LATE SPRING and SUMMER: Apply pre emergence weed control without fertilizer around June 1 to control annual and perennial weeds that continue to germinate into the summer (Optional application). If our lawn is mostly weed free, and weeds do not usually blow in from surrounding areas you can skip this application. Use a product approved for use on centipede grass lawns and apply at the rate recommend on the bag. Remember do not core/spike aerate for 3 months after you apply pre emergence weed control (you can use lazyman liquid aerator or lazyman liquid gold) because it will affect the chemical barrier. Irrigate after applying unless otherwise stated on the bag.

Once your centipede grass lawn is completely green and soil temperatures reach 75 to 80 degrees (usually May), begin treating weed outbreaks with a post emergence weed control spray approved for use on centipede grass. Do not spray weeds during March/April when your centipede grass is turning green because it may harm emerging centipede grass blades. Most sprays should be used when the air temperature is 6o to 80 degrees (check product label) and weeds are young and tender. If you wait another month or two, weeds will be older, tougher and require repeated applications to kill them.

EARLY FALL: Wait until soil temperatures drop to 70 degrees to apply pre emergence weed control without fertilizer to your centipede grass lawn. This is usually around October 15 in the lower South and September 15 in the upper South. This application will control weeds like annual bluegrass and henbit that germinates in the fall and winter.

Either way, make sure the pre emergence products are labeled for use on centipede grass and apply at the rate recommended on the bag. Irrigate after applying unless otherwise stated on the bag. This application will late 2-3 months.

WINTER: Apply pre emergence weed control without fertilizer 2-3 months after your fall application (optional application). This is usually in the late November/early December. If your lawn is mostly weed free, and weeds do not usually blow in from surrounding areas, you can skip this application. Use a product approved for use on centipede grass and apply at the rate recommended on the bag. Irrigate after applying unless otherwise stated on the bag.

During the winter, treat winter weed outbreaks as soon as you see them with a post emergence weed control spray approved for use on centipede grass. This is usually January and February. Most of your problems this time of year will be from annual weeds like annual bluegrass and henbit. Spray on a warm afternoon (air temperature at least 60 degrees) when the weeds are still young and actively growing. It may take two applications to kill them.

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