Lawn Weed Control… Liquid vs. Granular (Dry) – Which is Better?
When shopping for a lawn care service or to Do-It-Yourself, you’ll likely notice two options for weed control – liquid and dry (or “granular”) formulations. Home & Garden stores often sell D.I.Y. granular weed control products. So which is better?
First – Some information about liquid and granular weed control and how they are applied.
Liquid weed control is just that – the herbicide is mixed in water and is then sprayed with equipment designed for this purpose. The equipment can be as sophisticated as a riding machine that is calibrated to apply extremely precise amounts of the weed control or as simple as a hand-help pump-up can or back-pack sprayer.
The more sophisticated equipment allows the user to apply just the right amount of weed control needed – not too much (which would be wasteful and could damage the grass) or too little (which might not control the weeds).
On the other hand, a pump-up or back-pack sprayer is inexpensive and readily available. These are less accurate but can still be effective when used properly.
Granular (or dry) weed control, on the other hand, looks similar to granular fertilizers. The granules are small pellets coated with herbicide. These products are applied with push spreaders, hand-held ‘whirly-bird” spreaders or, the more accurate, powered spreading equipment.
While some lawn weed control products are designed to stop weeds before they start to grow (for example, crabgrass preventer) this article will compare “post-emergent” lawn weed control formulations – which are intended to eliminate actively growing weeds – like the clover and dandelions you see growing in lawns. Post-emergent weed control must contact, stick to, and be absorbed through the leaf of the weed to be effective. It is worth noting, more resilient weeds may require particular products to be effective.
Green Giant works with a variety of controllable weeds.
So what are the Pros & Cons of Granular Weed Control?
Getting Started:
- Liquid Weed Control typically needs to be mixed with water. This means measuring the concentrate and mixing it with the appropriate amount of water.
- Granular Weed Control just needs to be put in the spreader and it’s ready to use.
- Winner: Granular Weed Control
Application Process:
- After the mixing is done with the liquid weed control, the application process has a similar level of difficulty. With both materials, you need to be attentive and use the right amount in the right areas.
- Winner: TIE
Best Results:
Both Granular and Liquid Weed Control can be very effective however, remember that the material must stick to the leaf of the weed in order for it to be absorbed into the plant and translocate down to the plant’s root system. These materials are ‘foliar’ weed controls. This means they have to be absorbed into the plant through the foliage (leaves) of the weed.
- The downside to granular weed control is getting it to stick to the weed. These materials work best when applied to wet weeds. Without the surface moisture, the granules mostly roll off the leaf reducing potential control. Rain doesn’t always fall when we would like it to and irrigating the lawn isn’t exactly quick and easy.
- Liquid weed control can be applied when the weeds are wet or dry which makes it a much more versatile option.
- Winner: Liquid Weed Control
Note: Neither product should be applied while it is raining
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Conclusion:
Both liquid and granular weed control products are readily available to both professionals and homeowners. While there can be a difference between professional products and home-use products, most granular and liquid weed control products have the potential to control the entire plant, including the roots.
If you’re looking for a quick D.I.Y. method to gain some control of the weeds in your lawn and don’t mind waiting to do the applications until the lawn is wet – granular weed control may be the answer.
Liquid weed control is the go-to product for most professional lawn care service providers. It controls a variety of weeds – quickly and effectively.
According to Purdue University Turfgrass Science, liquid sprays tend to be more successful than their granular counterparts, simply because the liquid formulation is sprayed across the weed’s leaf surface and does not rely on additional moisture to stick to the leaf. Once dried, these liquid products stay on the leaf surface even if rainfall occurs.
If you’re considering a professional lawn care service or looking to eliminate difficult weeds yourself – liquid weed control is generally the best option. The characteristics of the liquid weed control formulations provide more consistent results, especially on the stubborn weeds we often experience in lawns.
Overall Winner: Liquid Weed Control
If you are interested in Green Giant’s services, we would like to answer any questions you have!
Lawn Care
Green Giant Home & Commercial’s Lawn Care services control weeds, build the thickness and density of your lawn and protect it from being damaged by insects and disease, providing you with a great-looking, healthy lawn. We offer fertilization, weed control, liming, insect control, and aeration and overseeding. Visit our Lawn Care page for more information.
Tree Care
Green Giant performs: Proper Diagnosis and Treatment of Tree & Shrub Problems, Insect & Disease Control (including Spotted Lanternfly), and Nutrient Management via Deep Root Fertilization to keep your plants healthy and thriving. Visit our Tree Care page for more information.
Vegetation Management
Green Giant’s Non-Lawn Weed Control services eliminate unwanted vegetation in a wide variety of locations for both residential and large commercial/municipal properties. Areas include fence lines, around obstacles to reduce weed eating, stone/gravel driveways & parking lots, swales, roadside/curbside vegetation management and more. Find more information, visit our Vegetation Management page.
Pest Control
Our full service pest control division provides both Year-Round Service Programs that cover the vast majority of pests that you will encounter and also One-Time Corrective Services for pests such as bees, ants, termites or mice. For more information, visit our Pest Control page.