Another basic pro lawn secret is to stay on top of weed growth. After all, it’s a whole lot easier to keep a lawn looking nice by spot-controlling weeds than it is to try to rescue a lawn that has already been overtaken by them. A simple way to spot-treat weeds is with a spot weed control product for lawns. With it, you simply spray weeds like dandelion and clover, killing them before they have a chance to bloom and spread more weed seeds all over the place. (Don’t worry—it won’t harm your lawn.) Check the label for your lawn type, and as with any product, be sure to follow directions.

How to Prevent Weeds From Growing

Annual grassy weeds, like crabgrass and foxtail, are easily stopped in spring, when the seeds and tiny seedlings are most vulnerable, so they don’t become a problem in summer. Applying a pre-emergent weed killer product eliminates weeds at the earliest stage of growth — before you even see them. Several key factors are important to consider if you want to use this type of weed killer effectively. Typical applications occur in early spring before warm season weeds appear and in autumn for cool season weeds. These preventative herbicides actually can be helpful throughout the majority of the growing season. Various weeds germinate at different times, so repeated applications of the correct chemical can eliminate the majority of the weeds in any lawn or yard.

A fall or winter application is necessary in some geographical areas. Locations that deal with annual bluegrass or annual ryegrass will want to get their lawn covered prior to the initial seasonal autumn/winter rains. In some southern climates, a winter application is necessary to protect against crabgrass as early as January or February. A summer application can be helpful, even necessary, in those areas where certain weeds wait for the hot weather. Many spots need to be ready for a second onslaught by some early weeds that can reseed and grow the same season, like the ever-present dandelion.

So we compiled a list of some of the very best Spot Weed Control products for your lawn currently available:

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