Dry vs. Wet Applications of Broadleaf Weed Killer

If you find yourself with broadleaf weeds in your lawn that you’d like to get rid of, you have several different options:

If your lawn is almost weed-free - with only an occasional dandelion or other broadleaf weed - you may find it more convenient to just pull or dig them out by hand without the use of any kind of chemicals.

If you have more than just a few weeds but most of your lawn is weed-free, you may find your solution in the form of a ready-to-use spray bottle of point-and-shoot broadleaf weed killer.

If, however, you have broad sections of your lawn that are heavily infested with broadleaf weeds, you will probably want to consider one of two other options. The first option is the use of a granular weed-and-feed. This method can save you time because while you are feeding your lawn you are also taking steps to eliminate broadleaf weeds. It should be noted here that the chemicals used to kill broadleaf weeds work best when they are dissolved in water and make contact with the broad leaf surface of these weeds. So what this means is that if you are going to use a granular weed-and-feed on your lawn, you should do so at a time when your lawn and its weeds are wet. If you make this application of granular weed-and-feed early enough in the morning, you may find that your lawn and its weeds are very wet from the dew. Otherwise, it is best to water your lawn lightly before applying the granular weed-and-feed.

The second option (if you have a lot of broadleaf weeds) is to spray your entire lawn with a liquid containing broadleaf weed killer. This is one of my favorite methods as it does not require the wetting of the lawn before the application. At your local gardening center you can purchase pre-mixed bottles meant to be connected to the end of your hose for use in spraying weeds. Or, if you are up to it, you can make separate purchases of an empty calibrated hose-end sprayer and the liquid broadleaf weed killer, then do the mixing yourself.

Regardless of your method, if you are using chemicals to kill your weeds, there are some precautions. Be sure to read, understand, and follow all instructions on the label of any product you use. I strongly suggest wearing rubber gloves and waterproof boots while you are handling and applying broadleaf weed killing products. It is also important to not allow children or pets on a recently sprayed lawn while that lawn is still damp. And lastly, I would like to mention that if you are spraying your lawn, you should be very careful not to allow the spray to drift off the lawn areas and onto nearby shrubbery or into flower beds.

NEXT TIME: Grass Trimmers and Weed Whips