Started By
Message

Pre emerge timing

Posted on 10/22/26 at 6:16 am
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
44218 posts
Posted on 10/22/26 at 6:16 am
I still have not put it out due to no rain. Soil temps getting cooler than target temp. I really can't spread it without rain. Can I still put it out whenever we do have rain forecasted or would that be a waste now?
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
11680 posts
Posted on 10/22/26 at 7:59 am to
I too am 2 days past target soil temp of 70. I’m wondering if it’s safe to wait until next week. Maybe some weeds will get through and I’ll have to address it in post.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
24764 posts
Posted on 10/22/26 at 8:34 am to
NO sprinkler system I guess? You can water it in with a sprinkler can't you?
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
6084 posts
Posted on 10/22/26 at 8:40 am to
Read the label on the pre-emergent herbicide you plan to use. Many state to water it in within 2 weeks of application. I assume thereafter efficacy might decrease somewhat, but not eliminated.

Though many weed seeds germinate at soil temps 70 F and lower, they also require soil moisture to germinate. So lack of rain should also hinder germination of cool season weed seeds even though soil temperature might be favorable.
Posted by DickTater
Geismar
Member since Feb 2013
253 posts
Posted on 10/22/26 at 8:52 am to
This was kind of my thinking, unless the weed seeds are very deep. I’m so dry there’s no way anything is germinating regardless of what the temp is.

Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
44218 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 6:19 am to
quote:


NO sprinkler system I guess? You can water it in with a sprinkler can't you?

Not gonna drag a hose and sprinkler all over an acre over several days doing it.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
44218 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 6:20 am to
quote:

unless the weed seeds are very deep.

VBW seeds beneath surface as well as above
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
6084 posts
Posted on 10/23/26 at 10:15 am to
quote:

Can I still put it out whenever we do have rain forecasted or would that be a waste now?

Weed seeds are present and germinate year round. Pre-emergent herbicides have an efficacy of about 3 months in the Deep South. I personally wouldn’t view it as a waste of product if applied prior to the next forecasted rain event. Certainly there will be some cool season weeds you’ll likely miss, but that could be minimal b/c of dry conditions hindering weed seed germination as well. Your call……
Posted by CWS91
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
1222 posts
Posted on 10/24/26 at 10:28 am to
Can I spread pre emergent after I mow or should I wait a few days after?
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
6084 posts
Posted on 10/24/26 at 12:14 pm to
quote:

Can I spread pre emergent after I mow or should I wait a few days after?

Yes you can apply pre-emergent herbicide after you mow. Pre-emergent herbicides need to moved into the soil where the weed seeds are present, hence the need for watering in after application.

In contrast, many/most post-emergent herbicides are are absorbed by the weed foliage and translocated though the plant, so it’s usually best to wait a couple days or more to apply post-emergents after mowing (more foliage for the herbicide contact) or wait a couple days or more to mow after herbicide application (more time for the herbicide to translocate through the weed).
Posted by ELLSSUU
Member since Jan 2005
8188 posts
Posted on 10/26/26 at 6:15 am to
We've not had rain in 21 days and the centipede and zoysia lawns are parched. I'm a hose dragger and traveled a few times since the last rain.

Since the lawn is stressed I've not put any pre-emergent down for fear of over stressing it.
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
2622 posts
Posted on 10/27/26 at 1:51 pm to
quote:

VBW seeds beneath surface as well as above
I wouldn’t rely on a pre-emergent to get rid of VBW. It’s also more of a warm season weed, so you should be focused on using a post-emergent to fight VBW now. You’re going to need to keep on top of it, or it’ll just laugh at your single application.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
44218 posts
Posted on 10/29/26 at 6:12 am to
Anyone else plan on laying pre-emerge that has not yet?
Posted by s14suspense
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
16384 posts
Posted on 10/29/26 at 6:41 am to
Do it. May get some rain this weekend. Better to put it down a little late than not at all.
Posted by onelochevy
Slidell, LA
Member since Jan 2011
18636 posts
Posted on 10/29/26 at 8:54 am to
I'm putting mine down Saturday and hoping we get some rain. If not, I'll haul out the sprinklers
Posted by BayooBandit
Thibodaux, LA
Member since Jan 2005
490 posts
Posted on 11/1/26 at 8:43 pm to
Got mine down just before today's rain. Had to mulch up all the leaves first so product could reach the soil.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
44218 posts
Posted on 11/2/26 at 6:35 am to
Mine goes down today
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
11680 posts
Posted on 11/5/26 at 3:43 am to
I missed the window this year. Will my yard be screwed, and should I just later put down Scott’s weed and feed just this year only?
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
44218 posts
Posted on 11/5/26 at 6:12 am to
NO! Never do weed and feed. The 2 applications go down at different times to be effective
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
88625 posts
Posted on 11/5/26 at 10:41 am to
If it were me, I would wait for the bad stuff to be visible, then hit the yard with one of those mixes for southern lawns with Atrazine. It will kill what's growing and stop anything new.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

Facebook•X•Instagram