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Can You Apply Too Much Preen? — Weed Control FactsMarch 21st is the first day of spring on the calendar, but dedicated gardeners turn their thoughts to digging and planting long before the first warm breeze hits their area.Some are already starting seeds for new plants and veggies in indoor trays, counting down the weeks until the soil is just the right temperature for new shoots. No matter what zone you live in – gardening lingo for location – the onset of spring is a day worth celebrating.March 21st heralds warmer temperatures just about everywhere, and nothing says “spring” more thoroughly than a packet of new seeds purchased at your favourite nursery. Yes, indeed, the time is almost here for preparing garden beds for existing and new plants of every variety. Unfortunately, that also means dealing with every gardener’s nemesis – the proliferation of weeds.Weeds are the bane of every gardener’s existence. They are unsightly and seem to spread quickly and take over beds that are home to beautiful blooms and fabulous veggies.Dedicated gardeners can find themselves bent over beds three or four times a week, yanking and pulling up roots to try to get ahead of weeds. It’s an arduous task that can seem endless, particularly when summer is in full swing and your plants are lush and bountiful.How should you deal with these unwanted invaders? An excellent product that is every gardener’s best friend is Preen, an all-natural herbicide that stops weeds before they grow.In this article, we offer tips on using Preen in your garden and explain how to make sure that you don’t overdo it. Although Preen is made solely from natural ingredients, meaning it’s not toxic or dangerous, there are steps you should follow to make sure it is at its most effective and that kids and pets don’t track it into the house.
What is Preen?
According to company literature, Preen isn’t a weed killer; it’s a weed “preventer.” It stops weeds from growing before they have a chance to spread through germination. It is made of corn gluten and is safe for pets and children. There is one caveat, however: once you’ve sprinkled Preen on the soil or mulch and dampened it to create a weed barrier, keep everyone out of the garden until it dries.That means keeping your dog and cat (and children, if they like digging!) inside until the beds are no longer moist, usually in about 30 minutes. Otherwise, paws may cause breakage in the new barrier, allowing weeds to poke through and grow. And those same paws might drag bits of Preen (and dirt) into the house and onto your freshly cleaned floors and carpets. No one wants that, especially after a few days of spring cleaning!
Preen Products To Choose From:
The company has three different weed prevention products, each designed for a slightly different type of landscape. Here is a brief overview of each to help you determine which is right for your gardening needs.
1- Preen Extended Control Weed Preventer
The advantage of this product is its durability – it lasts as long as six months. It’s designed for use in perennial flower gardens containing as many as 600 plants. It’s also safe to use around trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and even rock gardens.
2- Preen Garden Weed Preventer
This product works for up to three months. It can be used for around 200 established plants, including flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs.
3- Preen Lawn Weed Control
This product is made specifically for lawns. It prevents more than 200 broad-leaf lawn weeds, including chickweed and knotweed.
How Do You Use Preen?
Preen is extremely easy to distribute. You sprinkle it around the prepared, dry beds, close to but not on top of the stems and leaves of existing plants. Next, you water the area until it’s damp. You can use Preen around flowers, shrubs, trees, herbs and vegetable plants of all kinds.Once Preen is spread evenly around the garden, you can say farewell to weeds for about three months. No more backbreaking labour for almost the whole summer season!You shouldn’t use Preen around aquatic gardens containing waterfalls, ponds and fountains with koi, frogs or other aquatic life.Although you can use Preen at any time of year, it’s most effective if you spread it in early spring, when new or existing plants are about two inches tall. You’ll only need to repair the weed barrier Preen creates if Fluffy or Fido digs into the garden and disrupts it. A quick patch job with a little sprinkle of Preen, and voila! The weed barrier is as good as new.
The Company Suggests Following These Four Steps
- First, Remove Any Existing Weeds In Your Garden
Remember, Preen is not made to kill weeds that have already sprouted. It’s made to stop weeds before they have a chance to germinate and spread. Existing weeds must be pulled the old-fashioned way!
- Sprinkle
Shake the container of Preen around the garden, using only the prescribed amount in every area.
- Integrate
Mix the Preen into the soil or mulch using a rake or similar garden tool.
- Water The Garden
Unless rain is imminent, water the garden once the Preen is thoroughly distributed throughout the soil or mulch. Soak it just enough that it will dry in about 30 minutes.
Can You Use Too Much Preen?
The answer is: No. Preen is all-natural and non-toxic; it’s not the end of the world if you sprinkle a little too much on the garden. However, keep in mind that wasting any product, even if it’s not harmful to children and pets, isn’t wise. It’s a waste of money and effort!Even though it’s not going to damage the soil if you scatter a little more than the recommended amount, doing so too often can overwhelm foliage, roots and flowers. Don’t use Preen more frequently than the company recommends.Read the instructions carefully, and you won’t go wrong. The instructions on each container explain how much Preen to use per square footage, so follow the guidelines, and the weeds will be a distant memory. One more caveat: Preen doesn’t kill weeds that have already sprouted.You’ll have to pull those when you’re preparing the beds. But once your garden is ready, spread Preen and watch plants, flowers, herbs, and vegetables thrive weed-free!
Why Should You Choose Preen Over Other Herbicides?
Getting rid of weeds is a constant challenge facing all gardeners. Just when you think you’ve pulled every last one, a crop of unsightly weeds pops up the following day amidst your beautiful ornamental blooms or stalks of snow peas!The beauty of Preen is that once you’ve prepared your garden and sprinkled it over the mulch or soil, that’s it for several months. Preen doesn’t kill existing weeds – that’s important to remember. But when you’ve cleared those out of your garden and rid the soil of as many weeds as you possibly can by yanking them out by the roots, the garden is ready for Preen.It is classified as a “pre-emergent herbicide,” which means it kills the weeds’ seeds in their tracks. They can’t germinate and, therefore, can’t spread. Your vegetables don’t get crowded out by unsightly weeds. Ugly, wispy weeds don’t overshadow your blooms. Depending on which Preen product you use, you’ll get as much as six months free from pulling weeds in your garden.
In Summary
Spring is the season of endless possibilities, renewal, growth, and change in our landscapes. There may be nothing better – or more rewarding – than digging deep in the soil to get it ready for the fruits and vegetables, and flowers that will soon offer beauty throughout the growing season. Whether you plant food for family dinners like carrots, peas and potatoes, or you prefer the pretty blooms of ornamental flowers, getting the garden in prime condition is crucial come spring.Using Preen can help make your garden not only beautiful but more productive. When weeds aren’t taking up space, there is more room for the bounty of vegetables and the visual appeal of flowers.Sprinkling Preen on your soil or mulch in early spring is the most effective way to block weeds from multiplying and taking up precious space. Weeds look terrible and have the capacity to choke the roots of flowers, trees, shrubs and other plants you’ve worked hard to cultivate. And once the ground has the barrier Preen creates, you can look forward to three months (or more!) of no weeds.Be sure you use Preen according to the container’s directions so you don’t waste the product by putting too much in the garden or using it too often. Keep the kids and pets away while it dries, and in no time, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the visual appeal and bounty of your gorgeous garden!
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