When to Use Weed Killer: An In-Depth Guide

When to Use Weed Killer

Last Updated on

Weed killers are a great way to remove pests from your garden, but when is the right time to use them, and how can you use them effectively? In this post, we’ll show you how.

Using Weed Killer

Before you learn when to use weed killer, it’s important to know that you should only use them to control weeds, which means that you need to have actively growing weeds in the first place.

Season and Weather

For most gardeners, the best time will be in autumn—around September or October. Also, avoid buying a weed killer in the summer because many weeds won’t have come to the surface by this time, so you’ll end up wasting your money or having to repeat the process several months later. The weather has a big effect on weeds—no matter the type of weed—because of absorption levels, temperature, and other factors. Plus, weeds are less likely to grow in the soil during the winter months.

However, if you’re constantly weeding throughout the year, you might want to apply weed killers several times throughout the year from May onwards. Doing so allows you plenty of time before the winter months come in.

Factors That Affect the Effectiveness of Weed Killers

Fertiliser

Always fertilise the lawn before you kill weeds for the best results. Following this process will also prevent ruining your lawn, helping to keep it greener and healthier. Make sure the soil is properly moist so that the grass won’t suffer during the dry seasons.

Rainfall

You shouldn’t use weed killers for at least six hours before it’s going to rain, as this can ruin their effectiveness, meaning that you have to repeat the process once it’s stopped raining. For the best results, apply weed control in dry weather. Otherwise, a wet lawn will water down the weed killers.

Wind

You should also avoid applying the treatment when it’s windy outside because the wind will blow the spraying agent in another direction than intended. However, don’t apply the treatment to lawns when there’s a lot of sunshine because this can heat the weed killer, causing it to evaporate.

If your garden has many weeds, you may need to apply the treatment several times throughout the year. If you need to apply the weed killer in summer, wait until the evening has become cooler and not too warm. Also, always apply after several days of mowing and don’t mow again for four days. When mowing your garden before you’ve applied the weed killer, don’t cut too close to the grass. Otherwise, there might not be much grass left.

Using Herbicides Safely

Before using herbicides, there are some important safety factors to consider.

Protective Gear

Whether you’re mixing or spraying, wear protective wellies and eye protection, such as safety goggles. You should also wear chemical-resistant gloves to prevent herbicides from getting onto your skin.

Pet Safety

You should consider the safety of pets by keeping them off the lawn for at least an hour after spraying the weed killer on the lawn. If you have guinea pigs, hens, or rabbits, leave the area untreated that surrounds them.

Care for the Environment

Leave at least six metres distance from natural water sources like streams or lakes.

Protecting Other Plants When Using a Herbicide

When using a weed killer, there’s a chance that you can damage desirable plants. Fortunately, there are some strategies to bear in mind to protect your flowers and lawn.

Read Instructions

Firstly, always read the instructions on the weed killer because some brands can have a fine stream, whereas others target a large surface area in one go.

Check Weather Conditions

You should always spray herbicides when the weather is calm. Otherwise, the spray might move directly onto a plant rather than onto the weeds. Remain cautious of using a weed killer where bulbs are growing because they could react with the weed killer.

Use a Cover

For the best, safest results, you can protect your plants by using a plastic sheet to cover them. Once the weed killer dries, remove the sheet to allow the garden plants to breathe.

Avoid Treated Areas

Avoid walking on areas of the garden that have just been treated. It is because the treatment might not have been absorbed yet, resulting in you carrying the herbicide onto the rest of the lawn and killing plants.

Be Precise

weed in the garden

Direct the weed control onto only the weeds by using a precise sprayer. Bend down and target the weeds’ roots. This way, you get rid of weeds without the solution coming into contact with any flowers in your garden. If you’re inexperienced with using weed killers, we also suggest spraying the solution onto a sponge and rubbing the sponge onto the weeds’ leaves.

Protecting Your Garden

If you’re tired of using just weeding tools, learning when to use weed killer is important in maintaining your garden’s beauty. Aside from the timing, knowing how to use them effectively is also as important.

Share your recommended herbicide or other advice to control weed in the comments.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *