Crabgrass is a tenacious weed that can be the bane of any lawn lover’s existence. This hardy weed loves the hot and dry conditions of late spring and summer. Even though it sprouts and dies before fall, it is a perennial problem because of the thousands of seeds a single plant leaves behind. Read on if you want to know how to get rid of crabgrass.
As with any other weed, two approaches work. You can employ preventative measures that kill the seed before it can germinate. Alternatively, if you miss that germinating window in spring, you can use post-emergent herbicides.
Apply Crabgrass Preventer
These products are pre-emergent herbicides. They kill the seed before the shoots can burst out of the ground. Pre-emergent herbicides work by hindering seed germination and root development of crabgrass and other broadleaf weeds.
Keep in mind that this type of product will also inhibit the growth of your lawn grass. You should wait at least 60 days and 2 mowings after using crabgrass preventers to overseed your lawn.
Timing is everything for crabgrass preventers. The most straight forward way to know whether crabgrass is about to germinate is to measure the temperature of the soil. If it hits 55 degrees Fahrenheit for five consecutive days, it is time to apply your preventer. A natural indicator is the full bloom of Yellow-blooming forsythia shrubs.
Some crabgrass preventers can double up as fertilizer for your lawn grass.
How To Kill Post Emergent Crabgrass
What happens when you miss that window of effectiveness? At this point what you need is post-emergent herbicides. They are designed to kill the growing crabgrass plants before they produce seeds.
Always read the label and make sure that the herbicides you choose are ‘selective’. This means that it is specifically targeted at the crabgrass and broadleaf weeds, not your lawn grasses. Some lawn grasses such as St. Augustine and centipede grasses are susceptible to selective herbicides. Don’t forget to double-check your label.
How To Control Crabgrass Without Herbicides
Regular Feeding With Fertilizer
An underfed lawn will be sparse and a welcome bed for crabgrass to grow. Fertilize your lawn every 6-8 weeks to keep it thick and lush which will discourage the growth of weeds.
Water Deeply
Most weeds including crabgrass have adapted to dry, adverse conditions that lawn grasses cannot thrive in. Avoid shallow watering which leaves your lawn parched and creates dry patches.
Water your lawn less frequently to a depth of 6-8 inches. This will encourage the lawn to grow deep roots that will force out the weeds
Proper Mowing Height
Don’t mow your lawn too short. The top 2 settings of the lawnmower should give you a tall enough grass height. This will provide shade for the grass and less than ideal conditions for crabgrass to grow.
Lawn Maintenance in Cumming
In the beginning, it can be daunting to get the timing right for preventing or killing crabgrass. Killing weeds, crabgrass, and treating lawn fungus can be frustrating recurrent jobs for lawn enthusiasts. This is where a professional service comes in. Contact us today for an expert lawn service in Cumming and lawn mowing services in Alpharetta.
