What Pre-Emergent Does

Pre-emergent herbicides are used to prevent weeds before they emerge. They work by creating a chemical barrier in the soil that stops newly germinating weed seeds from establishing roots. Pre-emergents do not kill existing weeds. Once a weed is visible, post-emergent control is required.

Pre-emergents must be watered into the soil to activate. Without rainfall or irrigation, the barrier never forms and the application fails. This is why pre-emergents are often called “yellow herbicides” they go down first, quietly do the work underground, and only succeed if moisture moves them into the soil profile.

Timing Matters More Than Product

In West Texas, timing is driven by soil temperature, not the calendar. That said, for simplicity and consistency, our recommended application windows are:

• February spring pre-emergent

• May late spring / extended control

• September fall pre-emergent

These windows line up with weed germination patterns and turf growth in our area.

Soil Temperature & Weed Germination

Below 55°F

• Winter annual weeds germinate

• Examples: henbit, chickweed, annual bluegrass

Above 55°F

• Summer annual weeds begin germination

• Examples: crabgrass, goosegrass

Around 65°F

• Bermuda grass begins active growth and germination

Above 75°F

• Late summer annual weeds germinate

• Heavier pressure and faster growth

Think of soil temperature as a switch. Once that switch flips, the pre-emergent window is closing or already closed.

One Key Reminder

Pre-emergent applications must be watered in with rainfall or irrigation. No water means no barrier. No barrier means weeds.

GRANULAR PRE-EMERGENT PRODUCTS

Andersons 11-3-11 w/ 0.86% Pendimethalin

• Form: Granular fertilizer + herbicide

• Rate: 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft

• Coverage: 10,000 sq ft per 50 lb bag

• Timing: Spring and fall

• Strength: Broad annual grass control

• Notes: Most popular all-around turf program

Pendimethalin 2G

• Form: Granular herbicide only

• Rate: 3 lb per 1,000 sq ft

• Coverage: 13,000 sq ft per 40 lb bag

• Timing: Spring and fall

• Strength: Clean pre without fertilizer

• Notes: Use when fertility is not needed

6-3-12 w/ 0.37% Prodiamine

• Form: Granular fertilizer + herbicide

• Carrier: Hu-Actinite

• Rate: 6.25 lb per 1,000 sq ft

• Coverage: 8,000 sq ft per bag

• Timing: Early spring or fall

• Strength: Long residual control

• Notes: Stronger hold than pendimethalin

LIQUID PRE-EMERGENT PRODUCTS

Prodiamine 65 WDG (Quali-Pro)

• Form: Water-dispersible granule

• Rate:

  • 0.38 oz per 1,000 sq ft (lighter pressure)

  • 0.55 oz per 1,000 sq ft (heavy pressure)

• Timing: Early spring or fall

• Strength: Longest residual

• Notes: Commercial backbone product

Pendimethalin HydroCap

• Form: Liquid micro-encapsulated

• Rate:

  • 0.55–1.1 oz per 1,000 sq ft

• Timing: Spring or fall

• Strength: Consistent soil binding

• Notes: Good alternative to granular programs

PROFESSIONAL-GRADE ADDITIONS

Barricade 4FL (Prodiamine)

• Form: Liquid

• Rate: 0.38 - 0.55 oz per 1,000 sq ft

• Use: Large acreage, commercial turf

• Strength: Long residual, flexible application

Dimension (Dithiopyr)

• Form: Granular or liquid

• Rate: Per formulation

• Use: Slightly late applications

• Strength: Early post-emergent activity on crabgrass

• Notes: Shorter residual than prodiamine

Indaziflam (Esplanade / Specticle)

• Form: Liquid or granular

• Rate: Extremely low use rates (label specific)

• Use: High-pressure commercial sites

• Strength: Longest residual available

• Notes: Not for casual homeowner use

Activation & Irrigation

• Apply ½ - 1 inch of water within 7 - 10 days.

• Rainfall can substitute if sufficient.

• Do not mechanically disturb soil after application.

   

  Common Mistakes

• Applying after weeds are visible.

• Skipping irrigation.

• Using pre-emergent on newly seeded turf.

• Overlapping applications causing root pruning.

Product: Agita 10 WG (thiamethoxam 10%) fly bait/insecticide

Application rate (from EPA & manufacturer label):

• Mixing: 2.5 oz (75 g) Agita 10 WG in 20 oz (0.6 L) warm water. Stir until dissolved.

• Coverage: This makes enough for about 2,125 sq ft of treated surface in spot applications.

• Spot treatment: Paint or spray only about 30% of available surfaces where flies rest, sunny walls, around windows, door frames, and rafters.

• Reapply: Every 4 - 6 weeks or sooner if treated areas are washed or heavily soiled.

Time of day for best results:

• Apply early morning or late afternoon when flies are active but not in the peak midday heat (over ~95°F, flies often rest in shaded areas).

• Morning applications let the bait dry before flies peak in activity, which usually occurs mid to late morning.

Longevity / Residual control:

• Indoors: up to 6 weeks residual kill if surfaces remain dry and clean.

• Outdoors: typically 2 - 4 weeks, shorter if rain, high humidity, or dust build-up occurs.

• Flies begin dying within minutes to hours after contact/feeding.

Extra BMP tips:

• Rotate with non–Group 4A products every season to reduce resistance risk.

• Don’t apply to areas where animals can lick or touch it.

• Avoid use where food/feed could be contaminated.

Mixing Instructions for One Acre Application

Using Esplanade 200 SC, Ranger Pro, and Diquat

1. Product Rates per Acre

• Esplanade 200 SC (Pre-emergent): 5 to 7 fluid ounces
• Ranger Pro (41% Glyphosate): 2 to 3 quarts
• Diquat (37.3%): 1 to 2 quarts

2. Example Mix for One Acre

• Esplanade 200 SC 6 oz
• Ranger Pro 2.5 quarts (80 oz)
• Diquat 1.5 quarts (48 oz)
• Mix into 40 to 80 gallons of water, depending on your sprayer output

3. Coverage

• One acre = 43,560 square feet
• Typical application volume = 1 to 2 gallons per 1,000 sq ft
• That means you'll use 44 to 87 gallons of finished spray per acre

Fence Row Application

If spraying a fence row, measure 1 foot out on each side of the fence.
This creates a 2-foot wide band along the fence.
To calculate product needs:

• 1 mile of fence row (2 feet wide) = 0.24 acres
• Adjust your chemical mix based on this portion of an acre
• Example: Use about 1.5 oz Esplanade, 0.6 qt Ranger Pro, and 0.4 qt Diquat for 1 mile

Make sure to agitate the tank mix during application.
Spray evenly and avoid overlap for best results.

Let us know how we can help.  We’re here to serve.
BES-TEX Supply • 4512 Adobe Dr. • San Angelo, TX 76903 • 325.653.1300 • www.BES-TEX.com

Here’s a complete and organized list of 20 each for Broadleaf, Grassy, and Sedge-type weeds, divided by summer and winter, common to Texas lawns:

Broadleaf Weeds in Texas

Summer Broadleaf Weeds (Warm-Season)

1. Virginia Buttonweed
2. Spurge (Prostrate & Spotted)
3. Purslane
4. Pigweed
5. Carpetweed
6. Ground Ivy
7. Curly Dock
8. Black Medic
9. Burweed (stickerweed) – late spring
10. Common Ragweed

Winter Broadleaf Weeds (Cool-Season)

1. Henbit
2. Chickweed
3. Dandelion
4. Clover
5. Mallow
6. Hairy Bittercress
7. Wild Violets
8. Shepherd’s Purse
9. Thistle
10. Deadnettle

Grassy Weeds in Texas

Summer Grassy Weeds (Warm-Season)

1. Crabgrass
2. Goosegrass
3. Dallisgrass (perennial)
4. Johnsongrass (perennial)
5. Barnyardgrass
6. Texas Panicum
7. Sandbur
8. Smutsgrass
9. Foxtail (Setaria spp.)
10. Crowfootgrass
11. Liverseed Grass (Urochloa panicoides)
12. Lovegrass
13. Vaseygrass
14. Sprangletop
15. Carpetgrass (invasive in Bermuda/St. Aug.)
16. Field Sandbur
17. Signalgrass
18. Itchgrass
19. Woolly Cupgrass
20. Junglerice (Echinochloa colona)

Winter Grassy Weeds (Cool-Season)

1. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)
2. Rescuegrass
3. Ryegrass
4. Cheatgrass
5. Little Barley
6. Downy Brome
7. Tall Fescue (volunteer clumps)
8. Wild Oats
9. Canarygrass
10. Volunteer wheat
11. Volunteer oats
12. Bromegrass
13. Medusahead
14. Jointed Goatgrass
15. Rat-tail Fescue
16. Soft Chess
17. Roughstalk Bluegrass
18. Slender Wildrye
19. Velvetgrass
20. Italian Ryegrass

Sedge and Sedge-Like Weeds (Warm-Season)

Most sedges are warm-season and thrive in wet, compacted soil.

1. Yellow Nutsedge
2. Purple Nutsedge
3. Green Kyllinga