Tips

Cool Season Lawns FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Photo of author

By Mark Marino

Published on


What’s the difference between pre-emergent and post emergent herbicides?

The difference is pre-emergent prevents weeds from germinating and emerging from the soil, while post emergent herbicide kill weeds after they’ve germinated and have emerged from the soil. Example, prodiamine is a pre-emergent and applied in early spring to cool season lawns to prevent crabgrass from germinating. For crabgrass that has emerged from the soil, a product like quinclorac is an effective post-emergent herbicide to eradicate crabgrass.

What’s the difference between selective and non-selective herbicides?

Selective herbicides selectively kill specific weeds and grasses, while non-selective herbicides kill virtually everything it comes in contact with. Example, glysophate which is the active ingredient in Round-Up, is a non-selective herbicide and will kill both nuisance weeds (i.e. broadleaf weeds) as well as the good grass (i.e. turf type tall fescue) in your lawn. A product like Speedzone is a selective herbicide, which is designed to eradicate a list of grassy and broadleaf weeds, while being safe for most cool season grass types.

Photo of author
Author: Mark Marino
Post updated on
I am Mark Marino, the founder, owner, and operator of Lawn Phix. With a passion for lawn care and turf nutrition for over a decade, I've dedicated countless hours to correcting soil and perfecting lawns. Today, my expertise, backed by formal courses at UMass Extension Pesticide Education, allows me to offer top-tier services. I am a fully licensed and insured pesticide applicator in Massachusetts, specializing in comprehensive turf nutrition, and weed and pest control. My license number is AL-0053865.

Leave a Comment