Show #133 - March Weed Control: Stop Broadleaf Weeds Before They Explode

Late March is one of the most important windows of the lawn care season. Winter weeds are entering rapid growth, stiltgrass prevention deadlines are here, and spring flowering trees are putting on a spectacular display. This episode focuses on stopping broadleaf weeds before they seed, choosing performance lawn products, and adding magnolia beauty to your landscape.

The Next 100 Days: Winter Weed Season

Every weed you see over the next 100 days is a winter broadleaf weed.

These weeds are easiest to control right now before they mature and begin dropping seed.

Recommended spray mix:

• 1.5 oz Fertilome Weed Free Zone
• 1 oz Wilt-Pruf
• 1 gallon very warm water

Warm water improves performance by helping the herbicide activate in cooler weather.

Best application time:

• Early morning
• While morning dew is still present

The dew helps improve coverage and adhesion.

Wilt-Pruf acts as a spreader-sticker that turns spotty spray coverage into full-leaf coverage and helps keep the product in place, even after moisture exposure.

Why Gallery Outperforms Preen

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the difference between older consumer products and professional-grade prevention.

Preen

• Lasts about 10 weeks
• Prevents up to 40 weeds
• Best for mulch beds only
• Can impact root systems
• Not labeled for lawns

Gallery

• Lasts up to 10 months
• Prevents up to 200 broadleaf weeds
• Safe for lawns and beds
• Can be used over annuals
• Non-toxic and highly effective

Gallery is the preferred long-term weed prevention solution for both landscape beds and lawn edges.

Where Most Weeds Actually Start

A key lawn care insight from this episode:

80% of weeds begin in mulch beds and lawn edges.

Weed seeds do not “come from the soil” in most cases.

They are carried by:

• Wind
• Rain runoff
• Sidewalk and driveway flow

This is why mulch beds and borders are the first places weeds emerge.

Best practice:

1. Fertilize plants
2. Refresh mulch
3. Apply Gallery on top of the mulch

Apply when foliage is dry so granules fall through plant leaves and land exactly where prevention is needed.

Avoid Weed Barriers Under Mulch

This episode strongly advises against weed barrier fabric beneath mulch.

Why it doesn’t work:

• Weed seeds land on top of mulch anyway
• Germination still happens above the barrier
• Fabric restricts oxygen exchange in the soil

Use weed barrier only under gravel, not planting beds.

Healthy soil needs airflow.

Why Performance Products Matter

A major theme in this show is choosing products based on results, not marketing.

Professional-grade products deliver:

• Better coverage
• Longer residual control
• Higher active ingredient concentration
• Better value per square foot

For a great lawn, prioritize performance products over heavily advertised box-store options.

Spring Landscape Spotlight: Magnolias

This episode also highlights one of the most beautiful signs of early spring — magnolias.

Evergreen Favorite

Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia

• Evergreen
• Extremely cold hardy
• Rich gold-brown leaf backing
• Heavy summer blooming

A standout choice for year-round structure and summer flowers.

Best Deciduous Magnolias

These bloom in early spring before leaf-out.

Popular choices include:

• Star Magnolia – compact and wide
• Jane Magnolia – upright with pink-purple blooms
• Genie / Nigra – deep rich flower color
• Butterflies – yellow blooms

Best Fragrant Choices

The Little Girl Series is especially recommended.

Top varieties:

• Betty – reddish purple
• Susan – deep fuchsia pink

Both are known for fragrance and heavy bloom production.

The only downside is vulnerability to late hard freezes.

This Week’s Lawn & Garden Deadlines

Stiltgrass Prevention

March 22 is the deadline for applying Dimension to prevent stiltgrass.

Even if slightly late, apply now.

Stopping most of the problem is still far better than doing nothing.

Full Sun Lawns

Wait until after April 15 to apply Dimension for crabgrass prevention in sunny lawns.

Broadleaf Weed Explosion Window

March 22 marks the rapid growth period for roughly 200 broadleaf weeds.

Kill them quickly before they:

• enlarge
• flower
• leave bare spots
• drop massive seed loads

Remember the old gardening rule:

One year of weeds, seven years of seeds.

Fertilize Now for Maximum Root Growth

If you have not fertilized yet, do it immediately.

Through roughly April 20, plants are channeling most energy into root development.

This includes:

• lawns
• shrubs
• trees
• perennials

This is one of the best root-building windows of the entire year.

Best Spring Color Right Now

For safe early color, use cold-tolerant flowers.

Best choices:

• pansies
• violas

These handle frost and freezing temperatures extremely well.

Hold off on warm-season annuals until late April.

Tomatoes should wait until Mother’s Day.