The average commonly used preM do little to nothing for dandelions and other broadleaf weeds, Hogan. PreM is mostly used to prevent grassy weeds like crab grass.
PreM should be dropped just before these (grassy) weeds start to germinate at about 55 degree soil temps. Use your neighborhoods forsythias (yellow blooming bushes) as your visual clue and drop preM just as the forsythia start to bud/bloom - which happens at around 55 degree soil temps.
[keep in mind with preM, it is better to be too early rather than too late]
A healthy, thick and taller stand of turf goes a lot farther in preventing broadleaf weeds from germinating. You have a new lawn - water deeply and infrequently and mow tall to allow for good root growth before the heat of summer comes to your renovation.
Your new lawn will be hungry its first year also. Allow the renovation to wake up naturally. Mother nature does this all by herself with the warming effect of the sun. Once to start mowing grass at regular intervals, give the lawn a good feeding then.
A week later, any new weed growth will spring up from the fertilizer. Spot spray as needed now because weeds are best killed when actively growing and the recently fed grass will fill in the weed's void.
Thanks Gary but I am not referring to my lawn renovation (that was front lawn) by the way even in the winter it looks great,best thing I ever did.
I meant the back yard, I had a lot of dandelions last spring and wanted to know how to prevent them this year. I mulch mowed high all season but I have some bare spots where I spot treated last year and I have a feeling they will come back.
Is there anything I can do to prevent instead of spot killing them after the fact,or do i have to wait till they are actively growing.
