Why Are We Seeing an Increase in Weeds?

We would like to take a moment to share the science behind effective weed control in North Texas landscapes. What’s causing the issues with pre-emergent weed control this year? The effectiveness of pre-emergent weed control heavily relies on timing. So, what exactly is pre-emergent weed control, and how does it work? It’s all in the name, “PRE”-emergent. But how do we control weeds before they even emerge? 

Weed seeds are dispersed by wind currents and land throughout landscape beds and turf areas. To address this, we apply a microscopic barrier across all landscape beds and turf areas. This barrier allows weed seeds to sprout their taproots but prevents the taproot from penetrating the pre-emergent barrier. As a result, the newly formed plant is deprived of vital water and nutrients during its critical growth stage, leading to its failure and preventing weed growth altogether.

What Caused the Issue This Year? 

Timing plays a crucial role. As mentioned, weed seeds disperse across our landscapes during the previous year’s fall months, lying dormant through winter and awaiting spring to sprout. The catalyst for their germination in spring is soil temperature, needing to reach 52 degrees. Based on extensive weather data spanning almost a century, we historically time pre-emergent application between February 1st and March 15th, allowing ample time before weeds emerge. 

However, recent winters have been milder, with fewer hard freezes and higher average temperatures, such as January 2024’s 46-degree daytime and 40-degree nighttime temperatures. Consequently, many weed seeds germinated before pre-emergent application this year.

How Can we Address This Issue? 

Firstly, we’re fully aware of the situation and have deployed multiple teams to spray weeds daily. Although this process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, we’re committed to swiftly addressing weed outbreaks. Secondly, we’ll implement temperature probes to monitor soil temperatures next winter, aiming to anticipate the changing climate patterns we’ve encountered in recent seasons.

Seeing Too Many Weeds on Your Property? We’ve Got You Covered!

We understand that a healthy lawn is essential to you, your residents, or your customers. EarthWorks weed control services help you maintain a beautiful property year-round. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.