What is one consequence of delaying the application of a pre-emergent herbicide?

Delaying the application of a pre-emergent herbicide allows weed seeds that would typically be inhibited from germinating to take root. Pre-emergent herbicides work by creating a chemical barrier in the soil that prevents the germination of weed seeds. When this barrier is not applied on time, the conditions become favorable for weed seeds to sprout, leading to an increase in weed populations. This can result in competition with desired plants for resources such as nutrients, water, and light. Furthermore, established weeds can complicate subsequent management strategies and make control efforts more challenging and costly. Timely application of pre-emergent herbicides is thus critical in effective weed management.