• Crabgrass, a common problem in Georgia turf lawns, can be controlled with pre-emergent herbicides.grass image by green308 from Fotolia.com
  
  Skip the southern charm when it comes to weed control in Georgia. Common nuisances like spurge and annual bluegrass flourish in Georgia's compact soil. Successful annihilation of weeds in Georgia’s gardens and turf lawns requires a three-pronged approach utilizing pine straw, pre-emergence and herbicide.
  
  

Controlling Weeds in Flowerbeds

• Pine straw mulch, a staple for weed control in Georgiastraw image by Katrina from Fotolia.com
  
  Spot spray weeds in flowerbeds for immediate results. Select an herbicide made from glyphosate for a guilt-free application that won’t harm anything but unwanted weeds. Glyphosate is commonly found in herbicides available at home improvement retailers. It is safe for the environment, mammals, insects and fish. Because it is rapidly absorbed through plant leaves, glyphosate allows no run-off into creeks and water sources. It is non-selective in termination of plant life, however--hence the importance of spot spraying.
  
  To maintain a weed-free garden, mulch with pine straw to control the growth of new weeds while giving flowerbeds a polished appearance. Pine straw mulch retains much needed moisture for flowering annuals during Georgia’s summer months.
  
  

Eliminating Weeds in the Lawn

• Maintain a weed-free turf in Georgia during the cooler months of fall.Grass lawn image by Dan Marsh from Fotolia.com
  
  Broad leaf and crabgrass weeds are among the most common in Georgia’s turf lawns. Eliminate both with annual applications of herbicides available in granular or liquid form.
  
  According to the Turf Team at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, it's essential to treat turf lawns before the high heat of summer season begins.
  
  Use these dates as a guideline depending on region of established turf: South Georgia, February to March; North Georgia-March 1 to 20.
  
  

Warm-season Turf

• Eliminating weeds before they go to seed is key to maintaining a blemish-free turf.L??wenzahn - Pusteblume image by Oskar from Fotolia.com
  
  Bermuda and Zoysia turf are warm-season grasses that thrive in temperatures from 80 to 90 degrees. These turfs should be treated for weeds before their greening season, which begins in March.
  
  In the fall, apply a commonly found pre-emergence herbicide with MSMA (Momosodium and Methanearsonate) to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
  
  

Weed control for cool season turf

• Established lawns are most suited for pre-emergent weed prevention.Grass lawn image by Dan Marsh from Fotolia.com
  
  Fescue and rye grass benefit from the same treatment guidelines as the warm-season turfs, but applying pre-emergence and postemergence herbicides in the heat of summer is detrimental to any turf, as it will not readily withstand the stress of fighting heat, absorbing herbicide and fighting weeds at the same time. Establishing a strong growth pattern early will make turf hearty enough to battle the elements while accepting herbicides for weed control after maturity.
  
  

Tried and True Method

• Picking the occasional weed is good for the soul.picking flowers image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
  
  Steadfast maintenance of flowerbeds and turf is the gold standard for weed control in Georgia. As for good, old-fashioned weed pulling, it too, remains an effective, time-tested method for eliminating weeds as well as their seeds, which are bound to create offspring in the future. Even for avid gardeners, time is precious, and no one wants to spend hours pulling weeds. A little attention to the knowledge of how herbicides function is all it takes to allow for the occasional stoop here and there for plucking a wayward weed that somehow got away.