Weed Control Services in Plano, TXby Plano Lawn Care Pro

Pre-emergent treatments are applied before weed seeds germinate — think of it as a barrier that stops crabgrass and other weeds before they ever show up. Timing matters a lot here; applied too early or too late, it loses effectiveness. Post-emergent treatments target weeds that are already growing, working through the leaves to kill the plant without harming the surrounding turf when applied correctly.

Most healthy weed-control programs use both — a pre-emergent in spring and fall to prevent new growth, and post-emergent spot treatment for anything that gets through. Texas A&M AgriLife’s turfgrass program has detailed identification guides if you want to know exactly what’s growing in your yard.

Crabgrass is probably the most familiar summer offender — a coarse, spreading grassy weed that thrives in thin or bare patches once temperatures climb. A good spring pre-emergent is usually the most effective way to keep it from ever taking hold. Dallisgrass is a tougher relative that grows in clumps with a noticeably different texture than surrounding turf; it’s more resistant to typical grassy-weed treatments and often needs targeted spot treatment. On the broadleaf side, dandelion and clover tend to show up in compacted or thinning soil, especially in high-traffic yards, while henbit and chickweed are common winter and early-spring visitors that a fall pre-emergent helps keep in check.

Correctly identifying what’s actually growing matters more than most homeowners realize — a broadleaf treatment won’t touch a grassy weed like dallisgrass, and vice versa, so applying the wrong product can mean spending money without seeing results. We identify weed types before treating rather than using a blanket approach, which is part of why our treatments tend to hold up better between visits.