Crabgrass Is Starting To Germinate

Posted on: Jun 08, 2022Luis M Pérez

Common grassy weeds, most likely, do not blend in with your lawn. They can quickly take over before you realize it. These weeds can take the nutrients from your lawn because they compete for space. The best defense is to have a thick healthy lawn. In this blog, we will discuss the most common grassy weed; Crabgrass.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass – There are many different types of Crabgrass. The most common types look like a course, a light green clump of grass. It earned its name because its sprawling stems resemble the legs of a crab. Crabgrass is a common lawn weed that generally appears in late May/early June and grows rampant in July and August. Every fall, usually in September, mature Crabgrass will turn purple and eventually die off for the year. Crabgrass thrives in hot and dry weather so infestations will be worse when temperatures are especially hot, and lawns are not properly watered. Crabgrass also thrives in bare spots and thin spots, so you will usually see it along the edges of patios, driveways, and sidewalks. Below, we will discuss how to control Crabgrass using pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. 

Pre-Emergent

A pre-emergent herbicide, or Crabgrass preventer, stops the seeds left from the last growing season from germinating. Here are types of pre-emergent Crabgrass preventers:

• Liquid: A liquid pre-emergent works efficiently to cover a large lawn. It is also effective for killing seeds in tight areas. However, a liquid solution may be concentrated and require mixing and a sprayer.
• Granular: Applied with a spreader and then watered in, granular formulas work well for small lawns. However, granular forms do take longer to work than liquid.

Post-Emergent

After applying a pre-emergent in the spring, it may also be necessary to apply a post-emergent Crabgrass control in the summer. Pre-emergents are great at preventing Crabgrass; however, they are not perfect. If they were not watered in or if there was a period of very heavy rain after treatment, their impact will be reduced. Furthermore, Crabgrass germinates well in hot and bare areas. Therefore, if you have bare spots and hot spots, there is a good chance you will still have some crabgrass. Dr. Green includes summer Crabgrass control to eliminate this issue. After we treat the lawn and successfully control the Crabgrass, it is advisable to spot seed in the areas with heavy Crabgrass. Spot seeding these areas will thicken the turf and help prevent Crabgrass from growing in the following season. 

Want To Learn More? Do You Have Any Questions?

For more information on Crabgrass, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Lawn Care Expert, Luis Perez, via email at luisp@doctorgreen.com.