Using an effective herbicide is everything when it comes to keeping your lawn free of weeds and unwanted grassy plants like nutsedge and poa annua. You’ve probably tested your fair share of “miracle” weed killers over the years, all claiming to stop weeds dead in their tracks.
But after plenty of trial and error, you’ve likely learned that not all herbicides will do the job. Some just don’t pack the same punch against stubborn weeds year after year.
If you don’t want to waste money and time on herbicide letdowns, make sure any product you use checks off this list that I wish I had years ago.
1) Weed Type: Certainty Herbicide for Specific Pesky Plants
The weeds plaguing your lawn will dictate which herbicide to use. Certainty herbicide, for example, target sedges like nutsedge that can be difficult to eliminate. It selectively removes these grass-like weeds without harming warm-season turfgrasses.
Matching the herbicide to the weed type greatly increases effectiveness.
2) Herbicide Strength
Pre-emergent or post-emergent? Weed-and-feed or standalone herbicide? These decisions impact a product’s strength. Post-emergent herbicides tackle existing weeds, while pre-emergents form a barrier to prevent future growth.
Meanwhile, weed-and-feed combos may provide little herbicide strength due to the fertilizer. For big problems, it’s worth using a specialty herbicide alone at first to fully zap weeds at their source before mixing in other lawn treatments.
3) Lawn Type Compatibility
To avoid unwanted browning, check that the herbicide you’re eyeing is safe for your specific turfgrasses. Warm-season choices like Certainty, designed for Bermuda, zoysia, and more, pose no risk to those grasses when applied correctly.
But they could injure cool-season lawns containing fescue and bluegrass. Be certain the herbicide you bring home is grass-type compatible to keep your lawn as green as it can be after usage.
4) Weather and Temperature Ranges
Poor weather can weaken an herbicide’s effectiveness, so pay attention to a product’s ideal climate conditions for application. Some products, including Certainty herbicide, have advantages here by killing weeds safely over a wide temperature span.
5) Coverage Amount
Because herbicides often come with hefty price tags, it pays to compare active ingredient amounts and coverage ranges. A little can truly go a long way. For example, a 1.25-ounce bottle of Certainty treats up to three-quarters of an acre, offering excellent value.
Always scrutinize a herbicide’s stated area it can cover versus the per-bottle cost to maximize your money’s worth on a product doing the job right.
6) Durability and Residual Control
Herbicides vary in how long they suppress weed regrowth. Those with residual action continue working from within the soil for weeks or months following application.
For persistent weeds always popping up, these long-lasting options, including Certainty herbicide, eliminate the need for multiple sprayings.
In Closing
If keeping your lawn lush and weed-free without constant battles has you considering herbicide, evaluate products against the above checklist to avoid disappointment.
While no magic solution exists to replace proper mowing, fertilization, and cultivation, the right herbicide can promptly assist when unexpected weed infestations pop up.
