Are you looking for ideas on how to get rid of crabgrass in lawn? Crabgrass is a warm-season annual lawn weed that infest most of lawns and it can spread very fast suppressing your lawn grass if not controlled on time.
At the end of its life cycle, crabgrass leaves behind thousands of seeds which remain dormant until the next spring season when they germinate and they begin another growth cycle again. It can prove futile to eliminate crabgrass from your lawn if you don’t clearly understand its lifecycle.
In this post, am going to share with you practical tips on how to get rid of crabgrass in lawn for good.
Pre-emergent Control
One of the easiest way of controlling the spread of crabgrass is controlling them before they even germinate.
Since there are thousands of dormant crabgrass seeds in your lawn soil waiting for the right season to germinate, you can use pre-emergent herbicides when preparing your lawn to prevent them from germinating.
Crabgrass seeds germinates during early spring when soil temperatures are 55 degrees high and they can continue germinating until late summer.
Therefore, you need a garden thermometer to regularly check the soil temperatures so that you can apply the pre-emergent herbicides at the right time for the best results.
Pre-emergent herbicides will inhibit seed germination as well as root development of crabgrass seeds and you will have less of them in your lawn.
Ensure that you use the right pre-emergent herbicide and follow instructions for use carefully to avoid any unintended damage to your lawn grass seeds.
- Designed to prevent weeds; will not aid in eliminating existing weeds
- Contains 0.48% of the active ingredient prodiamine for professional-grade weed control for early spring and fall applications
- Prevents grassy and broadleaf weeds, including crabgrass, poa annua, goosegrass, henbit, and more
- DG Pro formulation allows for more particles per square inch and superior performance
- Made in the USA
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 10:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Post-emergent Control
If the crabgrass seeds have already germinated, you need to apply a different strategy to get rid of them. Some of the most common and effective methods that you can use are;
- Use of post-emergent herbicides
- Uproot them by hand
- Prevent more crabgrass seed distribution
- Subdue their germination
Read Also; 5 Simple Lawn Care Tips for a Healthy Lawn
Use of Post-emergent Herbicides
If your lawn grass have already germinated and you can clearly spot traces of crabgrass in your lawn, consider going for selective post-emergent crabgrass herbicides.
This will ensure that only crabgrass get killed and your lawn grass remains untouched.
Follow instructions carefully when applying the herbicides and make sure it’s not non-selective because it will kill even your lawn grass.
- Mesotrione, a potent herbicide, immediately absorbs and starts working upon application, yet it may take 2-3 weeks for full weed death. Activation requires water; if no rainfall occurs within 10 days, apply 0.15 inches of water.
- Targeting 46 broadleaf species and grasses, including Barnyard grass, Carpetweed, Chickweed, Clover, Crabgrass, and Dandelion, Mesotrione is versatile.
- Suitable for Kentucky Bluegrass, Centipede grass, Buffalo grass, Tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Fine Fescue, and St. Augustine Grass (sod only). Avoid Bentgrass, Poa annua, kikuyugrass, zoysiagrass, seashore paspalum, and bermudagrass. Apply Mesotrione on dormant bermudagrass to eliminate weeds.
- Mesotrione inhibits photosynthesis in susceptible plants, distributing throughout the plant via roots and leaves. It’s an effective herbicide preventing crabgrass seed germination and eliminating broadleaf weeds on contact, encouraging the growth of certain cool-season turfgrass in a weed-free environment.
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 10:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Uprooting Them by Hand
If you have a small yard, you can manage to uproot crabgrass by hand if they are just few percentage.
Do this when they are at manageable stage before they start producing seeds. By uprooting them, you will minimize seed production and they will reduce in number in subsequent seasons or vanish completely.
Curbing more Seed Distribution in your Yard
Controlling the spread of crabgrass seeds in all sections of your lawn is key to eliminating them.
After mowing or uprooting, bag all the clippings and plants and dispose them far away from your yard.
This method is effective in reducing the number of seeds which may remain dormant in your lawn soil after the end of crabgrass weed annual life cycle.
Subdue Seed Germination
Crabgrass lawn weed spreads fast in a lawn which has empty patches and on the lawn edges.
The best way to curb this spread is to have a thick, healthy and lush lawn.
When your lawn ground is densely covered by your lawn grass, it automatically subdues crabgrass seed from germinating.
Overseed any empty and dried patches in your lawn to ensure that you have a uniform and thick grass lawn. A healthy lawn can be achieved by;
- Mowing your lawn at the right time and height
- Water deeply and not very often
- Planting your preferred lawn grass type at the right season
How to Get Rid of Crabgrass Naturally
The best method of getting rid of crabgrass naturally is by adhering to proper lawn care practices. If you want a crabgrass free lawn, you must take charge of your lawn and break the growing cycle. You can do this by;
- Discovering crabgrass infestation early enough
- Controlling them before they germinate
- Uprooting them if it’s on a small yard
- Mowing at the right height
- Good watering cycles
A lush green lawn that is thick, healthy and weed-free is always eye-catching and attractive. Apply the above tips on how to get rid of crabgrass in your yard and you will attain your dream crabgrass free lawn.