Commercial Pre-Emergent vs. Post-Emergent Herbicides

For many properties, weed problems are an annual thing. The recurrence is agitating, and you don’t want to spend any more time on it than necessary. This may lead you to wonder: is it more effective to use a pre-emergent or post-emergent weed killer?

At State Chemical, we manufacture and distribute chemical and biological solutions for various applications, including weed control. It can be difficult to find effective solutions to stubborn weed growth, but with the right weed killer, this is attainable.

To help you determine the best herbicide for you, we will explain pre-emergent versus post-emergent herbicides and when to use each (or both). After reading, you’ll know the best approach to your property’s weed problems.

What is a Commercial Pre-Emergent Herbicide?

A pre-emergent herbicide is a weed killer that you apply before weeds have the chance to sprout. Rather than waiting for after weeds appear, pre-emergent herbicides are applied early (usually early spring) to block weed seeds from germinating. This way, you are less likely to deal with weed growth throughout the spring and summer—it’s already curbed by the herbicide.

However, it’s important to note that some weeds may still grow despite the use of a pre-emergent herbicide. For example, if you apply your pre-emergent herbicide in March and your neighbor’s dandelion seeds blow into your property in May, you’ll still end up with some dandelions on your lawn. This is just due to the preventative (not reactive) nature of pre-emergent weed killers.

What is a Commercial Post-Emergent Herbicide?

Meanwhile, post-emergent herbicides are weed killers that eliminate existing weeds from your property. This means that once you notice a weed infestation (often in spring or summer), you can use a post-emergent herbicide to retroactively get the problem under control.

Plus, if some weeds poked through even if you’ve used a pre-emergent herbicide on your property, you can use a post-emergent option to spot-treat these pesky weeds.

When to Use a Commercial Pre-Emergent Herbicide

All this said, it’s best to use a pre-emergent weed killer when you know you have a recurring weed problem each year and don’t want it to start in the first place.

Let’s say that every year, the snow melts, the sun comes back out, your grass starts growing… and it becomes infested with clover. If you’re used to this same song and dance, using a pre-emergent in early spring is the best route to go for optimal weed control.

Generally, pre-emergent herbicides are an effective option for any property, but they can only treat weeds preventatively. If you want something to kill already-existent weeds, pre-emergent weed killers will have no effect. Instead, explore post-emergent weed killers.

When to Use a Commercial Post-Emergent Herbicide

It’s most effective to use a post-emergent herbicide when you’re already in the midst of a weed outbreak.

For example, let’s say your facility’s flower beds are full of thistles. If you don’t want to continually spend hours pulling weeds, a post-emergent weed killer is your only solution. When applied as needed, it will kill these weeds and keep the flower beds looking neat and well-maintained.

If you need to spot-treat or kill weeds reactively, post-emergent herbicides are your best solution. But if you also want to prevent this growth in the first place, there’s a more comprehensive option for you.

When to Use Pre-Emergent and Post-Emergent Herbicides Together

By using pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides together, you can most effectively curb weed growth and keep your property looking well-maintained.

This is because a pre-emergent can prevent the majority of weed growth while a post-emergent can spot-treat anything that manages to persist. While this will involve more labor, it will help your facility look better maintained and deals with fewer weeds in the long run.

For very persistent or widespread weed problems, this is the most effective treatment method. But if your problem is more minor or you’re worried about reducing labor time, using only one of the two solutions can also be beneficial.

Learn More About How to Select the Best Commercial Weed Killer

Stubborn weed growth can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, but the right solution will keep your property’s weed presence to a minimum. Now that you know whether to use a pre-emergent and/or post-emergent herbicide, read this article to learn more about how to select the best weed killer for you.