Kill the Weeds to Prep for Seeds

Just like the pre-season for football, August is the pre-season for September overseeding. If you have started seeing weeds pop up with the late-summer heat, then eliminating them now is going to be your first step in the fall lawn renovation process. While many weeds will die with the first frost, spraying them in August, ahead of the fall seeding season, is important. When the weeds die, fill in the bare spots they leave behind with new grass seed. If you wait for the frost to do the job, there is a good chance the bare spots will still be there next spring. 

How Do I Kill Crabgrass?

Control crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds with one of Uncle’s Q-Bomb products. Q-Bomb, post-emergent crabgrass herbicides containing quinclorac, will control a wide variety of grass weeds and broadleaf weeds, including crabgrass, foxtail, clover, dandelion, black medic, English daisy, morning glory, dollarweed, speedwell, torpedo grass, barnyard grass, bindweed, signal grass, wild violet, and ground ivy. Q-Bomb is a concentrate that you mix in a pump-up sprayer and then spot treat the yard. Make sure to throw in some Stikit to the mix – this helps the product stick to the leaves and get a better kill the first time. 

Tips for Applying Q-Bomb in Late Summer

Uncle’s Q-Bomb is the spray of choice this time of year because it will take care of grassy weeds as well as any broadleaf weeds that have popped up in the yard this summer. Follow these tips when applying:

• Watch the temp: Aim for temperatures at or below 85 degrees. The good news is there are some days in the forecast that look good for spraying! Make sure to find a time when the wind is not blowing.
• Let Them Grow: Hold off on mowing at least 2 days before spraying. Give those weeds a chance to stand tall so the spray can work its magic.
• Hydrate Before the Battle: Water the lawn 1-2 days before spraying to protect your grass but make sure not to water after spraying and check the forecast for any rain within 24 hours.
• Timing is Important: Always read the product label. Depending on which you use, there will be a certain wait time before you can reseed. Keep in mind that some weeds may take more than one application, which is why it’s important to start now!

Uncle’s tip: Always read and follow label directions before applying any pesticide. Do not apply these products when temperatures are above 85 degrees; temporary turfgrass discoloration can also be expected with spot treatments when air temperatures exceed 85 degrees.

What Does Crabgrass Look Like?

Crabgrass can be sneaky and sometimes it’s hard to see when glancing at your lawn. Looking out over your yard, crabgrass shows up as patches of much lighter green than the rest of your turf lawn. Clumps spread out and root along the stems at joints. The blades are coarse, pointed and short. As crabgrass matures, and stays unmowed, they send up branched seed heads that have thousands of crabgrass seeds. Think back to spring – if you had lots of bare spots that now magically have grass, take a closer look – it might be crabgrass. 

What Is the Best Way to Prevent Crabgrass?

This time of year, the best way to eliminate crabgrass in your lawn is to overseed the yard after you’ve eliminated the crabgrass. A healthy, thick lawn will do the most to stop invasive weeds next summer. Check out these Idiot Proof steps to overseeding your lawn this fall, a process that starts in early September. 

Next spring, be sure to jump on Uncle’s Idiot Proof Lawn Care Program. This program is designed to control and prevent weeds before the become a problem. The first step in the process begins in March, and is a product called Prevent – a crabgrass preventer with fertilizer. The first application of Prevent (step 1) goes down in early spring before crabgrass seeds can germinate, and the second application of Prevent (step 3) will go down 10-12 weeks later.