If you’ve spent your weekends spraying dandelions only to see them return twice as fast, you’ve probably wondered if the pros are using something you can’t buy at the store.
The answer is yes - you can't buy most professional-grade weedkillers at big-box stores.
While big-box stores sell "one-size-fits-all" products, professional lawn care companies in Idaho Falls use commercial-grade herbicides and precise timing to stop weeds at the source.
The secret to a weed-free lawn in Eastern Idaho isn't a single magic chemical - it’s a strategic combination of pre-emergent barriers and targeted post-emergent treatments.
Pros have access to specialized formulas that can kill the toughest invaders—like thistle and field bindweed—without harming your grass. Plus, they understand the exact soil temperatures needed for those treatments to stick.
Here is exactly what the experts use to banish weeds in Idaho Falls and why professional-grade products make such a difference.
Pre-emergent weed control is a crucial part of how the pros battle weeds.
By applying pre-emergent herbicides during early spring (before growth begins), you can help prevent weeds from growing.
Unlike other weed control products that kill weeds that have already sprouted, pre-emergent herbicides work ahead of time, preventing seeds of unwanted plants from germinating. They target the weed seeds before they have a chance to germinate.
Timing is everything. It’s important to apply the pre-emergent herbicides early enough because if you wait too late, they won’t be effective. Lawn care services in Idaho typically start applying pre-emergent around April 1.
Lawn care companies know that pre-emergent herbicide isn’t enough to battle weeds. Weeds are dastardly. Some will still sneak through.
Once weeds have broken ground, pros use post-emergent herbicides to control them.
But it gets a bit complicated. You need to know what you’re up against.
Weeds can be either grassy or broadleaf, with each kind requiring a specific treatment plan. Once you know what type of weed is in your lawn, you can take action with a weed killer that targets the type of weed you have.
There’s a reason smart people hire lawn care companies to battle their weeds. It gets complicated.
What do lawn companies use to kill weeds? It depends on the weed.
The quickest way to get rid of dandelions, for instance, is to spray them with a broadleaf herbicide that will kill the entire plant, not just the leaves, without harming the surrounding grass. The key is to kill or remove the entire taproot, or the pesky plant will just keep coming back.
Mallow, another weed villain, produces many seeds, so using a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring will help prevent its seeds from germinating.
If some sneak through, broadleaf herbicides applied in mid-spring through early summer when the plant is young and actively growing can help, but mallow is a tough one.
White clover is less of a challenge for Idaho lawn care services. It’s usually banished through a quality, comprehensive lawn care program that includes weed control.
Professionals have access to weed control products you can’t use without a license. And they can custom-mix products or mix them at higher concentrations than the pre-mixed products homeowners can buy at the store.
It’s one great reason to hire an Idaho Falls lawn care service. Another reason: you don’t have to worry about buying and storing chemicals in your garage.
There are environmental concerns, too. Inexperienced homeowners applying weed control products to their lawns can pose serious risks to the environment.
Lawn care experts understand all the fine print on product labels and closely follow the specific application rates and safety precautions.
Even professional products, skill, and knowledge can’t outwit every weed.
Weeds are really evil. They love to lurk in your lawn as seeds, sometimes for years, just waiting for the right conditions to come along. And seeds are everywhere, from in your dog’s fur to the bottom of your shoe. Birds are famous for dropping them in your yard.
Some resistant perennial weeds can take multiple herbicide applications over several seasons to control — even with the best weed control tactics.
The hard truth is, you’ll still see a few stray weeds in your lawn — even after you’ve paid a lawn care company to come prevent and kill them.
When you choose Lawn Buddies, you get one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your lawn needs to grow healthy and green, including weed control that’s perfectly timed throughout the year.
Most weeds are banished over the course of the six-step program.
But some extra-tough weeds like thistle, field bindweed, and black medic often require a different herbicide, which is an additional visit on top of the normal lawn treatment.
Controlling weeds is a process, not a one-shot deal.
The best method of weed control is establishing healthy turf, including proper fertilization, watering, and mowing.
Weeds hate a thick, healthy lawn. Dense grass crowds out weeds and blocks the sunlight their seeds need to sprout.
Weeds love to push through struggling lawns to take over weak spots. So your best line of defense is to keep your grass thick, lush and healthy with an annual lawn care maintenance program that supports strong roots. Then weed seeds will have a tougher time sprouting.
Stop worrying about weeds and partner with an Idaho lawn care company that’s an expert in weed control.
Choose a professional lawn care service in the Idaho Falls, ID area that bundles your yard’s most-needed treatments into one convenient, no-fuss plan that tells you the cost up front.
Lawn Buddies features one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your Idaho lawn needs to grow healthy and green.
Fertilizer, weed treatments, and grub control, all wrapped up in six visits, each perfectly timed throughout the season, so your grass is green and strong and resists weeds.
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started. Just fill out the form on this page, call us at (208) 656-9131 or read more about our services. Then you can kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.