An impressive lawn requires careful watering, trimming, fertilizing, herbicide and fungicide applications, aeration, and potentially many more treatments. In short, itโs no easy feat to get the thick, green lawn of your dreams. But it can be a real challenge trying to keep all of those steps straight in your head. And depending on which resources you consult, you can get varying advice about when and how to handle all of these procedures.
Take herbicide and fungicide treatments for example. How do you tell whether you have a weed or fungus problem in your lawn? When is the right time of year to address either of these problems? How can you identify the type of weed or fungus in your lawn? Which product or method of eradication will work best? These and many more questions can make weed and fungus applications quite complicated.
Here are a few thoughts from the experts on herbicide and fungicide products for your Atlanta-area lawn.
Herbicides: Whatโs the Difference?
First of all, herbicides fall into two general categories: pre-emergent and broadleaf weed control. Pre-emergent treatments stop weed seeds from growing past germination. These products prevent you from seeing a bloom of unsightly weeds in your lawn. Therefore, itโs best to apply these products at the beginning of your lawnโs growing season.
Broadleaf weed control products eradicate weeds that have already begun to grow. In other words, if you can already see the dandelions beginning to bloom in your yard, you need broadleaf weed control. These products can be applied to your lawn periodically throughout the growing season, as needed to keep weeds at bay. Taking things one step further โ by taking extra special care of your entire lawn and making sure itโs at peak health โ will prevent additional weed issues.
Fungicide: Ready to Eradicate Your Fungus Problem?
Identifying and handling fungus in a lawn is a bit trickier than weed control. Many people have no idea what fungus looks like in their lawn, and still more people donโt know how damaging fungus can be for grass. There are many kinds of fungi that invade turf; your fungus might look like white powder or brown patches. It might be stringy or slimy. You could see purple, orange, red, or black splotches on individual blades of grass. The best way to identify your particular fungus is to consult with a lawn care professional.
Technicians usually only apply fungicide products to the affected areas. This helps prevent damage to other areas of the lawn. In the meantime, close attention must be paid to the care of your entire lawn in order to prevent further fungus issues. Consider that fungal infections are most often made possible by lack of watering or too much watering; compacted soil; mowing the grass too short; or using too much or not enough fertilizer. In other words, weak turf invites fungus.
If you suspect weed or fungus issues in your lawn, Kemko Lawn and Shrub can help. Contact us to request a free estimate for herbicide and fungicide applications.