Weeds have been eyed for observation through horticulture for the purpose of seeing their usage or how to stop their unwanted population. It is found that varieties grow in different seasons which gave birth to using pre-emergent weed killer. With this process, the soil is treated with a solution that crashes the life of weed on its early seed germination stage.
Oftentimes weeds can grow uncontrollable that methods to cut off their growth needs to be done multiple times but can still end up as a waste of time and resources. This is normally the scenario when they have already covered their spots on the turf in between cultured grass or worst, your cultivated plants. Applying any weed killer method while the lawn culprits are in their prime can really be challenging. You have to be cautious to not cause damage to the soil and plants which is hardly possible with even non-organic formula like vinegar that tends to be acidic to be effective.
Blanket of Prevention
Pre-emergent weed killer is a tight systematic approach on lawn nuisance. Aside from being wary of its toxic effect like other weed killer options, this method needs the calculation of time base on the target weed. It is a common knowledge that weeds would either emerge during winter or summer. Thus applying the pre-emergent solution must be completed prior to the peak of either season.
Another advice on using this option is to identify the crucial areas of your lawn where weeds are rampant rather than treating the entire yard. Some formula like Zytron will not allow you to plant until the soil is ready which is at least 10 weeks of waiting.
Among pre-emergent weed killer, Calcium Arsenate is suggested the most. But this formula is highly toxic which has extreme effects both on pros and cons. Its strength usually gives almost a100 percent effectiveness even as a crabgrass weed killer. In most cases, a one-time treatment keeps the weeds from occurring up to 3 years but with some yearly reinforcement of lesser concentration.
On the other hand, Calcium Arsenate could cause serious damage in the soil if usage extends the past 3 years. It is also known as a culprit on water pollution as the residue is most likely to join the water bank.
Level of Necessity
Tipping on what this inorganic solution can do both on the helpful and the harmful sides, one must be responsible for picking this as a weed killer for lawns. We cannot question the practical benefit of intervening seed germination of the weed. At the same time, almost all pre-emergent formula can also eradicate soil insects and pests. But at the same time, these herbicides have the equivalent level of hazards to the soil, pets, water supply, and to human.
If you can gauge that weeds on your yard are extremely agitating and all other solutions failed, then the pre-emergent application is probably the only cure for your lawn. Just use a brand that is least abrasive to the soil and has minimal residual effects.