How to Prevent Crabgrass
Have you ever worked super hard on your lawn in the spring to have crabgrass destroy it in the summer? You used a preventative but it didn’t work? If so, you know it is a very difficult weed to control once it starts growing...
The best way to prevent crabgrass from invading your lawn in the summer is with a pre-emergent in the spring.
Questions answered in this article:
Related Resource written by our owner, Nate:
When and Where does crabgrass grow?
- When: Crabgrass is an annual weed that grows from late spring until late summer/early fall.
- Where:
- Sunny areas
- Hot temperatures.
- Bare soil areas.
- Insect damaged areas: a healthy lawn can fight crabgrass but a damaged lawn cannot.
Areas where your turf is scalped (cut too short).
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Crabgrass will grow into thin or bare areas in your lawn and it chokes out "good" grasses.
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When temperatures drop as fall approaches, crabgrass dies leaving bare areas in your lawn.
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If given the space, it can create up to 15,000 thousand seeds per plant each year.
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Its high stalk create a perfect space for lawn pests to thrive.
How do I identify crabgrass in my lawn?
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New crabgrass will appear a light green color (lighter than your grass).
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As the season goes on it will get darker and become a dull green color.
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Crabgrass tends to grow close to the ground and in clumps.
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Crabgrass has a thicker leaf than a grass blade
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Crabgrass grows outward instead of upwards.
How do I prevent crabgrass from growing in my lawn?
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Healthy Lawn: Thick, healthy lawns are strong enough to fight off crabgrass. Maintaining a healthy lawn is a preventative on its own.
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Products: Pre-emergents such as Dimension and Pendimethalin are two of the best options. When it's time to fertilize in the spring, make sure one of these products is included.
How do I control crabgrass after it has grown?
Selective Herbicides (kills weed and not grass):
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Quinclorac (Drive 75 DF Herbicide
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Dithiopyr (Dimension)
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DSMA (Methar 30)
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FEnoxaprop-p-ethyl (Acclaim Extra)
* Read your weed control label to make sure one of the above products is in the ingredients.
Non-selective herbicides (kill everything):
- Round-up. (These areas will have to later be re-seeded)
Who can help me prevent/control crabgrass?
- DIY: Follow steps above and use recommended products.
- Hiring a professional: call a local company and make sure they are applying pre-emergent in the spring and weed control throughout the year
To eliminate the takeover/spreading of crabgrass and make your lawn more enjoyable for your family, follow these guidelines or call a trusted professional.
Referrals from family, friends, and neighbors are a good way to make sure you won’t be taken advantage of.
If this article was useful to you, read some others similar to it:
Since 2007, Green Meadow Lawn Care has provided homeowners throughout the greater Tolland, Connecticut area with premium fertilization programs, tick control, mosquito management, seeding & aeration and tree & shrub care.
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