Using a weed killer for lawn treatments is ideal for lawns filled with weeds. After you spray weeds with a weed killer, the next chore should be mowing your lawn. This begs the question, “how soon after spraying weeds can I mow?” The short answer is about 48 hours to mow your lawn after using the spray weed killer to kill weeds on your lawn.
The reason why it takes this long is that systemic weed killers are absorbed through the leaves. They kill weeds by attacking the entire plant to the root. This is why one should mow after using the spraying weed killer, not before. Because the latter will eliminate the weeds and leaves from your lawn, rendering any lawn treatment less effective than it should be.
How Long Will Spraying Weed Killer Take to Eliminate Weeds?
While there’s a general answer to this question, the duration involved depends on the weed spray you use for lawn treatment. There are different types of weed spray:
- Selective
- Non-selective
- Systemic
- Residual
- Contact
The average time range for these conventional weed killers is between two weeks and four weeks.
Of the types mentioned above of herbicides, the systemic liquid herbicide is the most potent liquid weed killer among them. Despite its potency, it still needs up to 2 weeks to eliminate weeds from your lawn. It’s just how weed killers work.
This makes it a normal scenario if you’re still waiting for the weeds to die on your lawn, even if you treated it barely a week ago. Still, eliminating weeds from your lawn can be faster and more effective if done in the right conditions.
These conditions include adhering to the accurate time window based on how long you wait to cut grass after applying weed killer. It also applies to the use of herbicides on windy and rainy days. If all the above conditions are rightly adhered to, weed control on your lawn becomes much easier. This also means that the weed control process will occur quicker.
In summary, how long one has to wait to mow after spraying depends on two factors. The first factor is the type of herbicide you’re using, e.g., granular weed killer. The second factor is in which conditions you used the liquid herbicide to control weeds.
Aside from knowing how long to wait after spraying to mow your lawn, you should also be familiar with other things, such as the best time to spray weed killer on your lawn as well as the best types of weed killers. These will influence your mowing schedule.
What Time Is Best For Applying Weed Killers to My Lawn?
While certain weed killers will work in cold temperatures, others will be less efficient. This is crucial knowledge, so you don’t end up buying the wrong kind of weed killers for your lawn during milder climates.
For instance, spraying Roundup and 24d isn’t ideal for cold temperatures. The best time to apply a weed killer to your lawn is when the temperature is at a minimum of 55°F. The afternoon is the best time to apply weed killers because that’s the warmest period of the day. Doing this will guarantee the best results.
We recommend you check the usage instructions on your weed killer for directions on how to use it. We also strongly advise that you ensure your lawn is off-limits to your kids and pets for about three days once you’ve applied the weed killer.
Best Types of Weed Killers to Use
There are different kinds of weed killers that you can apply to your lawn. The best ones include:
Liquid Weed Killers
This is the most common weed killer. It can be sprayed directly on weeds instead of on the entire lawn. Homeowners usually put the liquid weed killer in a spray bottle and attach a backpack sprayer or hose to let the liquid out. Unlike the granular weed killer, there’s no need to water your lawn slightly before usage because the weed killer itself is already liquid.
Granular Weed Killers
This weed killer is in the form of granules. This type of weed killer can be applied using a fertilizers spreader. We recommend that you adhere to the usage instructions on the package. Certain granular weed killers perform dual functions of killing weeds and fertilizing grass simultaneously.
For maximum efficiency, slightly moisten your lawn before you apply this weed killer. This will ensure that the granules stick properly to the leaf surface of the weeds on your lawn.
To Sum Up
Getting rid of weeds manually isn’t an easy chore, especially on a large lawn. However, it’s necessary to maintain a healthy lawn. However, most herbicides or weed killers make this chore much easier. We recommend that you always follow the usage instructions on the package and avoid mowing the lawn too quickly after spraying your lawn. Lastly, give the weed killer ample time to work on your lawn grass.
