With last year’s brutal summer and early fall, many areas are in need of reseeding. The question comes up about seeding and weed control: should the weeds be controlled first or should the seeding be done first? This seems like a simple question, but it’s fairly complex depending on the turf and weed species present as well as the time of year. Healthy dense turf will help limit weeds and improve herbicide efficacy, but conversely a dense weed crop will outcompete the turf. In most cases, I would favor seeding first and then herbicide application if it is still necessary after the seedlings get old enough to tolerate it. If winter annuals like common chickweed are spreading throughout the area, use FMC’s Quicksilver (carfentrazone) prior to seeding or anytime after seeding. Perennial broadleaf weeds like dandelion or clover may be present but won’t be competitive with the turf, so seed first and worry about weeds later in spring or next fall. If you expect that extremely competitive summer annual grass like crabgrass is going to be the problem, use either siduron (Tupersan) at the time of seeding again 3-4 weeks later and/or dithiopyr (Dimension) after the second or third mowing of the new seedlings. You can always come in 28 days after emergence with any postemergence crabgrass product that contains quinclorac (Drive). If the area contains spreading turfgrass like Kentucky bluegrass, you may get enough spread that seeding won’t be needed, and herbicide and a light rate of fertilizer may solve your problem. Conversely, if the area contains the dreaded perennial ryegrass that doesn’t spread, then you may need seeding plus the fertilizer and herbicide.