If you are a homeowner, then you know that keeping your lawn looking nice is important, and that means eliminating problem grasses. You may have heard of crabgrass and coarse fescue, but you may not know the difference between them. In this blog post, we will discuss the key differences between crabgrass vs. coarse fescue so that you can take informed action to keep them out of your lawn.
What Is Crabgrass?
Crabgrass is an annual grass that germinates in the spring from seed. It grows rapidly and produces a lot of seeds, which is why it can be such a problem in lawns. Crabgrass dies back in the fall and then regrows from seed the following spring.
What Is Coarse Fescue?
Coarse fescue, on the other hand, is a perennial grass that does not produce as many seeds. It has a deep root system, which makes it more resistant to drought and heat stress.
Crabgrass vs. Coarse Fescue: How Are They Different?
While crabgrass is mostly found in sunny areas of lawns, coarse fescue prefers shady conditions. Crabgrass also forms dense mats that can crowd out other grasses, while coarse fescue tends to form tufts or clumps.
Curious about other pests in your lawn? Read: How to Tell the Difference Between Bed Bugs and Ticks.
How Can You Control Crabgrass and Coarse Fescue?
The best way to control crabgrass is to prevent it from germinating in the first place. This can be done by applying a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring before the seeds start to germinate. Once crabgrass has started growing, it is much harder to control.
Coarse fescue can be controlled with herbicides, but because it is a perennial grass, it will likely require multiple treatments over several years to completely eliminate it from your lawn. You can also try physically removing coarse fescue plants from your lawn, but be sure to get all of the roots so that they don’t regrow.
If you are having trouble with crabgrass or coarse fescue in your lawn, contact a professional lawn care company for help. In fact, our lawn service in Alpharetta excels at eliminated both of these invasive grasses from Georgia lawns. Our team will be able to assess the situation and recommend the best course of action to take. In the meantime, follow these tips to keep these problem grasses under control.