End of January too early for pre-emergent?

South Louisiana? I’d prob try to wait to mid-Feb but I’d have to admit with this warm winter some spring weed seeds may begin germinating earlier than normal. Honestly, applying it a little early won’t hurt anything per se you just won’t have the residual effect of the herbicide on weed seeds that germinate a later in the spring - label usually says about a 4 month residual life, but with our heat and rainfall I seriously doubt the residual life is that long.

CrawDude, have you ran across wavyleaf basketgrass or hairy jointgrass? It’s an invasive species that looks like a cousin of stiltgrass.

Me and Celsius struggled against it all summer. I opted not to do post emergent in the Fall because I’m planning on resodding the area I nuked with glyphosate and figured I’d be hitting it again before I laid new sod.

Still have some good St. Aug left in the front yard but so now I’m wondering if I should treat with prodiamine so I don’t lose more turf to this monster before I hire a drainage specialist and lay new sod.

And if you have come across this stuff, what have you done to control it?

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South Louisiana? I’d prob try to wait to mid-Feb

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North Louisiana. I'm getting a few broad leaf weeds popping up now. I suspect this is from being a week or two late on my fall application though and I'm not wanting to mess up the spring application in similar fashion.

I just did my first application. It won't cover me through crabgrass season so I'll have to do a second round. As others have said, with this warm winter weeds are already germinating.

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Is it too early for the application. I'm looking at waiting til the end of this next cold snap to put the summer pre-emergent out.

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Not too early, but what herbicide?

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Better to err on the side of putting it out to early than too late.

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This ^^

Pre emerge herbicides are broken down by soil microorganisms, so when the soils are cool you really aren't losing much residual because the microorganism activity is low. In a nutshell, early is way better than late.

CrawDude knows what he is talking about. Are you in the turf bsuiness Craw? Just wondering, as I am and maybe we could swap some ideas.

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Can you tell me the best weed control I need to use?? (I'm in North LA as well)

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Any of the follwing will kill broadleaf weeds already up. These are all similar products. Basically a blend of 3 or 4 different herbicides all put into 1 jug. They will work in cool temperatures (slowly) but you will have better results if you spray on a day in the 60's or 70's.

Post Emergent Herbicides
Weed Free Zone
Trimec Southern
Speedzone Southern

I would also treat with a Pre Emerge Herbicide like Barricade or Simazine. A good target date for that would be Valentines Day, but if you want to go sooner that would be okay. Make sure the pre emerge gets watered in within a few days if possible. Barricade is much better on grassy weeds like Crabgrass, Simazine is stronger on some broadleaves. Mixing them is a good option

Pre Emerge
Barricade / Prodiamine (Be careful its very yellow)
Princep / Simazine

Some other great products are Specticle as a Pre Emerge and Celsius as a Post Emerge. These are great products, but are at a totally different price point.

Thanks for the info! Are these safe to use on bermuda?

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Are you in the turf bsuiness Craw? Just wondering, as I am and maybe we could swap some ideas.

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no, but I was a researcher, extension specialist and teacher for the LSU AgCenter for 30+ years, not in landscape horticulture or turf but rather the aquatic arena, and I’ve some research experience with pesticides, soil and water science, etc so when I got serious a few years ago of improving my personal home landscape I knew what to read, landscape horticultural colleagues in LSU AgCenter to contact for information (or other land grant universities professionals in the southern states) or how to get answers to questions I could not find on my own. I listen to local radio programs hosted by professional degreed landscape horticulturalists who answer numerous questions by callers on weed and lawn management identical to questions posted daily on this board, I’ve been through the master gardener program, attend Master Gardner seminars and workshops, I attend horticultural research station technical field days to gain knowledge, etc.

So I’m largely self taught, but with technical background to easily understand the use and action of ag chemicals. I just offer advice to neighbors, family and friends, when asked, and whatever little I might contribute to this board. That is the satisfying aspect of agricultural cooperative extension work - trying to help others solve their problems. I’ve learned much from following this board. And I enjoy reading your posts - it’s long been very clear to me you are a turf management professional who provides sound and correct advice and recommendations.