Crabgrass

Crabgrass is a weedy annual grass that needs a warm, sunny environment to thrive. It grows well in lightly watered, under-fertilized, poorly drained, and thin lawns. Help to prevent crabgrass by setting your mower height to 2" - 3", avoiding light watering, and avoiding summer fertilization. Crabgrass germinates in late spring and early summer, when soil temperatures are in the mid to upper 50°s. Because one plant can produce over 3000 seeds, control is aimed at preventing seed germination. Controls must be applied annually in early spring before you can see the problem. Pre-Emergent Crabgrass controls should be applied from March 15 - April 15.

PRE-EMERGENT CONTROL

Several pre-emergent and post-emergent controls are available. If you have had problems with Crabgrass in your lawn, pre-emergent control is highly recommended. Tupersan is a pre-emergent control that does not require a waiting period for seeding your lawn. Tupersan remains effective for 4-6 weeks and should be applied once every 4 weeks throughout the spring and summer. It is available mixed with or without fertilizer.
Some other pre-emergent controls require a 45-day waiting period before seeding can be accomplished. These pre-emergent controls last longer and require only one or two applications each year. They are available with or without fertilizer.

• Dimension- Controls grassy and several other broadleaf weeds for up to 4 months
• with each application.
• Team- Controls grassy and several other broadleaf weeds for 3-4 months with each application.
• Corn Gluten Meal- 100% organic. Controls grassy and several broadleaf weeds in lawns and gardens.

POST-EMERGENT CONTROL

The key to successful post-emergent control is timely applications. As the Crabgrass plants mature they become more resistant to post-emergent chemicals. The best time to apply post-emergent control is in June or July. As the season progresses more than one application may be necessary.
These products may cause some yellowing, but will not harm your lawn if used according to the directions. However, if used improperly, or applied too often, they can damage or kill turf.

• Ortho Crabgrass Killer- Calcium Methanearsonate 8.4%-3 week no-seed period
• Bonide MSMA Crabgrass Killer- Monosodium Acid Methanearsonate 47.6%-3 week no-seed period