Weed Control Services

Most lawns run $65–$95 per treatment, depending on lawn size and grass type. A full annual program (pre-emergent + post-emergent + spot treatments) averages $400–$650 per year for typical Wilmington-area lawns. The exact price depends on square footage, Bermuda vs. Centipede vs. St. Augustine, and how bad the weed pressure is.

The first pre-emergent goes down around February 15–March 1 (soil temps 55°F for two consecutive days). The second application follows 6–8 weeks later in early-to-mid April. Missing the first window is the #1 reason homeowners fight crabgrass all summer.

Pre-emergent creates a barrier in the soil that stops weed seeds from germinating — crabgrass, goosegrass, foxgrass, annual bluegrass. Post-emergent kills weeds that are already growing — dollarweed, dandelion, clover, chamberbitter. You need both in a real Wilmington lawn program; one without the other leaves gaps.

The big four: crabgrass (summer annual), dollarweed (wet-soil perennial), chamberbitter (late-summer annual), and doveweed (late-summer perennial that looks like grass). All four need different products and timing — which is why generic "weed and feed" from the box store usually fails.

Yes, with the right product. Atrazine is the standard for both. We avoid Dimension (dithiopyr) on St. Augustine and use Celsius + Certainty for Centipede. Bermuda and Zoysia can take a wider range. Always check the label — the wrong product on the wrong grass burns the lawn.

Mowing at the right height (3.5"–4" for St. Augustine, 1"–2" for Bermuda) is the single best thing you can do. But it doesn't replace a chemical program. Pre-emergent keeps the annuals out. Post-emergent handles the perennials. Mowing handles the in-between — it doesn't replace the program.

Most selective herbicides kill the visible weed in 7–14 days. The whole plant, including the root system, takes 21–30 days. Don't expect a "spray and gone" result in 48 hours — that's an overdose rate, and it burns the lawn.

Chamberbitter (also called gripeweed or little leaf flower) germinates in late May through July, so post-emergent control has to start in mid-summer — earlier than most homeowners try. Three Corn Speed Zone + a sticker surfactant works on warm-season grasses. Repeat in 4 weeks. Expect two seasons to fully clear it.

We use conventional products because they work better and cost less for our climate. If you specifically want organic options (corn gluten, iron-based selective herbicides) we can build a program around them — just know the results are slower and you'll see more breakthrough weeds in summer.

Pre-emergent in February and April, post-emergent treatments as needed through summer (May, July, September), and spot treatments between visits. Fertilizer is separate so you can choose organic or conventional. We come out 6–8 times a year depending on your lawn's needs.