I would like advice on who to contact for a post-emergent and pre-emergent spraying. Due to the freakishly non-existent winter we had, the weeds grew out of control the past few months, and since I kept expecting a hard frost to eventually hit (which never did) we delayed the pre-emergent spray too long.

There are lots of businesses listed in Raleigh, but many have bad reviews along with good reviews and most of them have almost no reviews at all. We're talking about 5500 square feet of lawn.

I would like something cost effective that won't rob me. I know a lot of you are do-it-yourself-ers but I really want a BUSINESS to do this so they can followup and keep tabs on it, especially since I don't have the time, energy, or know-how to do it competently.

3/2/2012 3:03:12 PM

contact a county extension agent


nvm i thought you were asking about advice not a company to do the application, my bad ignore me

[Edited on March 2, 2012 at 3:05 PM. Reason : d]

3/2/2012 3:04:40 PM

We ended up hiring a company to come out because the weeds were INSANE. They did the first treatment yesterday. So far they've been fine. We'll see how I feel once the weeds have a chance to die (if they do).

[Edited on March 2, 2012 at 3:08 PM. Reason : a]

3/2/2012 3:07:55 PM

I sprayed my own yard with some Altrazine (I think that's what it's called) about a month ago and it got rid of about 90% of the weeds. Grass looks great right now and is starting to green again and grow some more.

3/2/2012 3:15:49 PM

Quote :

"but many have bad reviews along with good reviews"

Take the bad reviews with a grain of salt. Many people hire companies to handle fertilizer and pest control, but do no other maintenance to their lawn (primarily watering), and expect to have a lush, golf-course like lawn, which is an unreasonable expectation.

Whether you go with EPM, Scotts, weed-man (i'd go with them on name alone), or other generally well known name, they're all doing basically the same thing and using mostly the same chemicals. If they show up and spray the correct chemicals for the application in question and at the right times (they should provide a summary of what exactly they sprayed each time), then they've done their job.

I use EPM, and i have a magnificent lawn. they have plenty of bad reviews, but again it's mostly people who are retarded (such as my next door neighbor).

3/2/2012 3:45:52 PM

Okay thanks for all the advice guys. I eventually chose to go with Weed Man Lawn after talking to them. Their prices are very good and they seem to have a good rep, plus they have a great guarantee if the yard does get messed up and they can do it soon.

I tried to find out if they used Altrazine (thanks for mentioning that jbrick), but it seems their sprays are more of a cocktail of weed killers, so I hope I get as good results as you did.

3/3/2012 5:34:18 PM

I just let them grow. It's all green to me.

3/3/2012 8:53:46 PM

Pretty sure Atrazine can only be applied to centipede grass and zoysia. What kind of grass do you have?


If you're doing pre-emergent, you better act fast. May not have great success as its a bit late. You'll need to repeat the treatment in mid april for the late sprouting crabgrass

No idea on companies as I do it myself. I've heard mixed reviews on the weed man. You probably have better luck with a local mom and pop company I'd think. Might pay a bit more

[Edited on March 3, 2012 at 9:03 PM. Reason : Aaa]

3/3/2012 8:59:32 PM

i thought this was about farming and I got excited to show off my knowledge

3/3/2012 9:31:00 PM

They'll actually be doing a combination of post-emergent (my yard is largely infested with henbit, but there are a few other weeds as well) and pre-emergent with the first treatment to be started next week. Aside from the henbit the grass is mostly fescue because we seeded the lawn with fescue in late Fall.

Their first treatment of pre-emergent is usually in Jan/Feb which I missed, but their second is often in March to get a jump start on any more weeds getting the idea to sprout, and they'll do about 6 treatments over the growing season.

3/3/2012 10:43:11 PM

Make sure you use pre-emergent next fall and it'll prevent the henbit and poa annua (annual rye). Of course you can't seed fescue afterwards.

[Edited on March 3, 2012 at 11:00 PM. Reason : Aaaaa]

3/3/2012 11:00:03 PM

anyone know if you can apply lime at the same time you apply pre-emergent?

3/4/2012 1:09:35 PM

I don't see why not

3/4/2012 11:08:20 PM

mmm, the favorable period for lime application is basically over in NC. better to wait until the fall than risk overapplying and damage the grass during the most vulnerable stage. Lime can take years to move only a couple of inches through the soil anyway, so leaving the application until the cold season will not change much. If you decide to proceed, only apply ground "calcic" limestone. Do NOT apply burnt lime or slaked lime at this time.



[Edited on March 7, 2012 at 9:58 AM. Reason : don't forget to get your free soil test and specify turf, apply chems according to analysis]

3/7/2012 9:54:52 AM

every time i see this thread i think it's going to be something dirty

3/7/2012 8:11:34 PM