Posts from the ‘Weed Control’ Category

Q: Is it true that pre-emergent herbicides will completely eliminate all weeds from growing before they start?

It is a common misconception that pre-emergent herbicides will completely eliminate all weeds from growing before they start. Initial pre-emerge treatments can actually accelerate the growth of weeds that have already germinated. Can you believe it?

Now this might seem like it is impossible to get rid of weeds but our team at Northwest has devised a system that plays a key role in controlling weed growth. When Northwest applies the product for the first time it will control 70-80% of weeds. Over the next couple of treatments (every six months) the treatment will condition the soil to be inhospitable for weed growth. And over the course of three treatments customers can expect to see 90-95% control.

A thing to remember though is Pre-emergent herbicides are not designed to “kill” weeds. They are designed to interfere with the seed turning into a weed. The seeds that have already begun this process of turning into a weed will not be affected.  Also note, that to insure application consistency Northwest uses water with its products.

Now, these two factors play the biggest role usually for the first application. After that, these effects will be less apparent and weed control will continue to increase.  For more information and pics, please visit our page on weed control.

How long do you wait before you take action against weeds?  Well, probably sooner then the property owner of the house below (just a guess.)  Obviously, this level of a weed problem is not most people’s reality unless you’re the person that lived across the street from this jungle.  I know most of you just sighed in relief that’s not your neighbor.  Weed control’s importance extends beyond that it’s unsightly.  Check out 5 more reasons Northwest Exterminating weed customers enter into a management program.

1.  Fire Hazard
2.  Attracts animals and insects for food and shelter
3.  Competes with desired plants for water
4.  Cost of fines and increased removal charges for higher level weed problems
5.  Personal safety at risk due to lack of visibility

How does a pre-emerge service work and will I still have some weed activity after the service?

It is possible to see weeds after your first pre-emerge service. Thousands/ millions of weed seeds blow into your yard in the course of a year. If there are any seeds that have already started the germination process it would be impossible for a “residentially labeled” pre-emerge to inhibit that growth. However over time the soil in your yard is conditioned to be non-conducive for weed growth.

There are factors that will increase and decrease the longevity of your pre-emerge barrier. Rain! It is actually a good thing that it rains. This will push your pre-emerge further into the soil causing it to surround more of the seeds under the surface and dissipate at a slower rate. Another factor is soil disturbance, “hula-hoeing”, trenching, erosion, etc. These actions will bring your pre-emerge to the surface and cause a breakdown of the product, mainly in the areas that were disturbed.

Please keep in mind that even after flawless application, substantial rain and perfect conditions it is still expected to see some weeds. Northwest Exterminating in the end is still trying to subside Mother Nature. Realistically there will be about 75-85% control after a pre-emerge treatment.  A good post-emerge program in conjunction with a semi-annual pre-emerge will get rid of that 15-25%.

Contact Northwest Exterminating for weed control service through our website or call 520-888-BUGS.  Our weed control experts will be glad to help you!

Q: Weeds are becoming a huge issue in our backyard. I feel like they are growing at an exponential rate! What can I do to get rid of them?

Weeds can be very troublesome. In fact weeds can grow and spread so rapidly that it can be a danger to the Arizona environment. This has caused the state to designate certain weeds into categories if they are harmful.

Any weed that is not native to the Arizona landscape is considered an “Invasive” species. These invasive weeds are categorized even further into 3 more groups of “Noxious Weeds”. These groups are “Regulated”, “Prohibited”, and “Restricted”. A regulated weed is one that can sometimes encroach on areas that can cause harm to native landscapes. This will lead to the state removing the weeds by manual or chemical control. Prohibited weeds are plants that are not allowed entry into the state by means of sale of seeds, in plant boxes or transport. Violation of this law can be punishable by law. Restricted weeds are not tolerated by the State of Arizona. If there is a known occurrence of a restricted weed it is normally manually removed to ensure no future growth happens. These weeds are commonly a danger to livestock, animals or human health. The best thing to do is contact a local company to rid of this problem for you.

Over the past several decades, weeds have continually become a big issue for several farmers.  Many of them have turned to synthetic herbicides because they are the most effective deterrent against weeds. However, with the demand for organic food on the rise, and the public sentiment towards synthetic herbicides as negative, there is a need for the market to develop a new, natural way for weed management.

Currently there have been reports that the essential oil from a manuka tree shows great results a both a pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide. Field tests were already conducted against crabgrass, velvet leaf, pigweed and other species of broadleaf and grass weeds.

Manuka oil contains natural beta-triketones, which target the same plant enzyme as some commercial synthetic herbicides. To be an effective herbicide, these oils often require multiple applications in high amounts. The cost of the oil and the cost of making numerous applications drive up the overall expense.

However, it is the potential of manuka oil as a pre-emergent treatment that makes it an attractive option for developing a new natural herbicide. Large crabgrass growth was reduced 50 percent to 90 percent in the current study, depending on the dose of manuka oil used. No other essential oil is currently in commercial use for weed control has shown such strong activity.

Full text of the article, “Manuka Oil, A Natural Herbicide with Preemergence Activity,” Weed Science, Vol. 59, No. 4, October-December 2011, is available at http://www.wssajournals.org/.