Pre- and post-emergent herbicides are essential tools for maintaining a healthy, weed-free lawn. Understanding how and when to use each type can make a significant difference in preventing and controlling unwanted weeds throughout the year.
What Are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?
These are herbicides designed to stop weeds before they even appear. They work by creating a barrier in the soil that prevents weed seeds from germinating and establishing. They are best applied at specific times of the year. Typically around early to mid Autumn and Spring, just before weed seeds begin to sprout. Pre-emergents are particularly effective against annual grassy weeds such as Crabgrass, Summer Grass, and Winter Grass.
Oxafert, which combines a herbicide with a fertiliser, is a great option as it allows you to feed your lawn while also preventing weed growth. For best results, pre-emergents should be applied before these weeds are seen in the lawn, as they will not remove anything that has already germinated.
What Are Post-Emergent Herbicides?
These herbicides are used to treat weeds that have already appeared. These products target actively growing weeds and are absorbed through the leaves, working down to the root to eliminate the plant. Post-emergents are ideal for tackling broadleaf weeds such as bindii, clover, and dandelion, as well as other more specific kinds of weeds like Nut Grass and Mullumbimby Couch.
All Purpose Weed Control and Estate Herbicide are popular options, specifically formulated to control a wide variety of broadleaf weeds and are safe on most instant lawn varieties. We recommend to always keep a broad spectrum herbicide on hand for when the occasional weed does pop up in your lawn.
How Do I Apply My Herbicide?
Both types of herbicides can be applied in liquid or granular form. Although granular options are far less common for post-emergent herbicides, as a result, application methods differ slightly between the two. However, for pre and post emergent herbicides, you should always follow the application rates on the bottle. You should also check that it is safe for use on your turf type.
For pre-emergent application, Oxafert is a granular option best applied with a spreader and requires watering in after application. This allows the product to reach the soil where it prevents weeds from germinating.
For post-emergent application, All Purpose Weed Control is sprayed directly on to the lawn with the hose on bottle it comes in. Estate Broadleaf Herbicide is another option that comes as a concentrate. For application, it should be mixed in a knapsack and applied to the lawn with a sprayer.
You can find our full range of weed control products on our online store here.
