When is the best time to put down crabgrass control on my lawn?
In my 30 years of lawn service industry experience, a top concern for customers has been the timing of your 1st service.
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For Starters: What is a Crabgrass Pre-emergent?
Pre-emergents don't prevent weed seedlings from germinating, they prevent the germinating weed seedlings from becoming established. They do this by inhibiting a particular enzyme. Pre-emergents are engineered to not affect already established plants.
Top 3 Crabgrass Pre-Emergent Options:
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Dimension
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Pendimethalin (Pre-M)
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Barricade (Prodiamine)
Dimension
Dimension works as both a pre-emergent and post-emergent. This product gives you about 2-3 week's time after forsythias have bloomed to apply to your yard.
- Offers a wide time window for application.
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Effective in preventing a variety of weeds from emerging/establishing.
- Will control or suppress more than 45 annual grass and broadleaf weeds including chickweed and crabgrass.
Pendimethalin
Also known as Pre-M, Pendimethalin has been a regulated product since 1972. It works well as both a pre-emergent and a post-emergent by interfering with cell division in young weeds.
- Works as both a pre-emergent and post-emergent.
- Stops weeds by interfering with cell division in roots of young weeds.
Barricade (Prodiamine)
Prodiamine is a relatively newer product compared to Pendimethalin. It helps control and prevent summer annual weeds. It is a pre-emergent herbicide that has low-rate, season-long control of up to 30 grassy and broadleaf weeds.
- Controls up to 30 grassy and broadleaf weeds.
- Lasts up to 6 months
- Binds high in soil to ensure turf roots below the barrier aren't affected.
Now that you know the 3 main pre-emergents for crabgrass, you are ready to get started on your lawn! These products offer pre and early post-emergent qualities, they do not have to be applied as soon as forsythias bloom.
Bottom line: If you are applying crabgrass treatment yourself, it is a good idea to make sure that whatever product you are using is down early.
If you are using a lawn care company, trust that they have knowledge and experience in how to not only preventatively control crabgrass but also to control it post-emergent.
Mother Nature throws many curveballs and it is not always certain that you will receive 100% preventive control. Having a company that you trust to do their job is critical in keeping crabgrass out.
More articles about weeds:
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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