HELP ! I’VE GOT SOOOO MANY WEEDS !!

HELP !  I’VE GOT SOOOO MANY WEEDS !! 

It’s what I’m hearing every day at the counter here at the store.  If it makes you feel any better, you’re not the only one dealing with it.  If it doesn’t make you feel any better – sorry !!

Why is it happening ?

Look at the weather pattern we’ve been dealing with.  Lots of rain and moisture in the fall season.  Extended warm weather late into the fall season.  Up and down temperatures from Christmas to now.  WELCOME TO THE SANDHILLS !!  When you have warmer weather in the winter months, this is what happens.  The goal of every plant is to produce seed to reproduce.  (When God said “Go forth and multiply”, evidently the weeds overheard that!)  Most of what you’re seeing is winter weeds that think spring is approaching and then they die out when it gets hot.  Since they know that death is imminent (that means soon), they’re putting on their final push to produce their seed so they’re growing more aggressively that they have all year.

OK – the Horticultural lesson is great but I want them gone !

Here’s the problem – Most of your chemicals are not very effective when the night time temperatures are below 50 degrees.  Also, many tough weeds will take 2 applications of even the strongest weed killers so if you get lucky and have a warm stretch for one application, when it’s time for your second application ten days later, we’re cold again !  Therefore, you might feel good because you’ve sprayed a weed killer out, but you’re probably wasting your time and money.

I know – I’m full of bad news but still haven’t solved your problem !

The absolute best way to keep this from happening is to get on a good pre-emergent program.  Apply a pre-emergent in mid to late September and again in mid to late February and you will keep a lot of your weeds from ever coming up.  Meanwhile, keep the lawnmower tuned up and keep chopping the pesky weeds down until we reach the temperatures that will allow your weed killers to be effective.

It still doesn’t solve your problem today – but at least I’m not trying to sell you something that’s not going to work anyway !

The recap

Winter weeds – aggravating

Sandhills temperatures – unreliable

Chemicals in cold temperatures – not dependable

Pre-emergent program – GOOD !