Weed control: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What weed control is

Weed control stops weeds from sprouting or removes the ones already growing in lawns, beds and gardens. People hire it when the same weeds keep coming back, spread faster than they can pull them, or return every season in the same spots.

Signs you need it

  • The same weeds come back to the same beds or lawn areas every season
  • Weeds are crowding out the grass or the plants you actually want
  • Weeds are going to seed and spreading into the neighboring yard or garden
  • Hand pulling no longer keeps up, or the roots snap off and the weed comes back
  • You are not sure which weeds you have, and the product you tried did not work

What the pro does

  • The pro identifies the weeds, since annual, perennial and grassy weeds each need different treatments and timing
  • They check the lawn or beds for growth stage and any areas where the weeds are concentrated
  • A pre-emergent is applied before seeds sprout, or a post-emergent is spot-applied to weeds that are already up
  • Hand pulling or digging is used where a spray would harm nearby plants, or where the roots need to come out whole
  • They explain when the next treatment is due and any watering or mowing rules to follow afterward

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Total area and the number of beds or lawn zones that need treatment
  • Whether the job is a pre-emergent program across the season or a one-time spot treatment
  • Weed type and how established the infestation is
  • Amount of hand weeding needed in beds with delicate plants
  • Access and tight spaces around plants, edging and structures
  • Whether the work is part of a lawn plan that also includes fertilizing or aeration
  • Number of follow-up visits needed to deal with new growth

What a written quote should spell out

  • The weed types being treated and the method for each area
  • The products by name and how they are applied, with the rate taken from the label
  • Whether pre-emergent, post-emergent or hand removal is used in each area
  • The timing and the number of visits
  • What you need to do before and after, such as watering in or keeping pets off treated areas
  • Who applies the products and whether that person is licensed where your area requires it

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What weeds do you think I have, and how did you identify them?
  • Will you use a pre-emergent, a post-emergent or both, and when does each go on?
  • Which products are you using, and does the label say anything about pets and edible plants?
  • How long should my children and pets stay off treated areas?
  • How do you protect my vegetable beds and flower borders when you treat nearby?
  • How many follow-up visits do you plan for weeds that come back?
  • Is the applicator licensed where my area requires it?

Red flags

  • They spray without identifying the weeds first, so they may treat the wrong plant or miss the right one
  • They spray a broad product near vegetable beds or flower borders with no plan to protect them
  • They promise to kill a weed permanently in one visit
  • They will not name the products they use or show you the label
  • They say they will pull weeds but leave the roots and seed heads in the lawn

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can pull small weeds by hand when the soil is moist, getting the roots out, and spot-treat a few weeds with a product labeled for that plant. Call a pro for widespread infestations, for weeds in a mixed lawn where a product could kill the turf, or when the treatment means applying products across a large area. Follow the label exactly, wear gloves and eye protection, and keep children and pets off the area until it is dry.

Licenses and permits

Weed control applied for pay is commonly treated as pesticide application, which many areas license. A business registration may also apply. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you hire for it, and confirm that the applicator holds whatever license your area requires.

Weed control questions

Is weed killer safe around kids and pets?

Products vary, so read the label for the product the pro uses. Follow the wait time on the label, keep children and pets off treated areas until the label allows, and ask the pro which products they chose and why.

Why do weeds keep coming back?

Some come up from seed every season, and others return from roots left in the soil. A pre-emergent covers the seeds, while a spot treatment or hand removal handles plants already up. Ask the pro which type you have.

Will weed control kill my grass?

It can, if the product is wrong for the grass or applied at the wrong rate. Ask the pro whether the product is safe for your grass type and whether they will treat only the weeds or the whole lawn.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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