{"id":15207,"date":"2019-07-29T18:54:45","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T21:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=15207"},"modified":"2026-04-28T10:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T13:55:27","slug":"how-to-apply-pre-emergent-herbicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/how-to-apply-pre-emergent-herbicide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides"},"content":{"rendered":"

To apply pre-emergent herbicides, you’ll need 3 things: your lawn’s square footage, the right applicator (spreader or sprayer), and proper timing. The key is getting the herbicide down before<\/strong> weed seeds germinate \u2014 typically when soil temperatures hit 50-55 degrees in spring.<\/p>

Pre-emergent herbicides create a chemical barrier in the soil that stops weed seeds from sprouting. They come in granular or liquid form. Both types require about 1 inch of water to activate and move into the soil where weed seeds germinate.<\/p>

Don’t want to handle the timing and application yourself?<\/strong> LawnStarter’s weed control service<\/a> takes care of pre-emergent applications at the right time, so you never have to worry about missing the window. Get a free quote in under 2 minutes and let the pros handle your weed prevention.<\/p>

Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u2022 Apply pre-emergent when the soil reaches 50-55 degrees in spring or falls to 70 degrees in fall.
\u2022 Two applications per year, once in spring and once in fall, is recommended for most lawns.
\u2022 Always water in the herbicide with about 1 inch of water to activate.
\u2022 Wait at least 1 year before using pre-emergent on newly seeded lawns.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t
Table of Contents<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div>
\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t