A Guide to Crabgrass Prevention
Crabgrass steals nutrients from other seedlings, leaving your lawn and garden looking patchy and thinned out. Due to the fast-growing nature of this annual weed, it's best to take a preventive approach to stop it from taking root in your yard at all. The following lawn care tips can help.
Know When & Where to Take Action
Crabgrass generally emerges in early spring, germinating when soil temperatures reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It's best to take preventive action before this, paying particular attention to those areas that are more prone to crabgrass growth.
Crabgrass favors sunny locations with sandier soil, such as cracks along sidewalks and driveways. The weed also tends to sprout in areas that are already damaged, where there is little competition for growth. A healthy, well-fertilized lawn with strong grass growth is less susceptible to crabgrass.
Apply Preventive Products
Pre-emergent control is the best line of defense against crabgrass. This creates a barrier that prevents crabgrass seeds from germinating and taking root in the soil. It's best not to rake or dig in the soil after applying a pre-emergent, so take care of your basic springtime lawn care first.
Before applying a pre-emergent herbicide, aerate and fertilize your entire lawn. This will give your other grass the nutrients needed to grow strong and ward off crabgrass. Then, apply your chosen pre-emergent herbicide—make sure the product is labeled specifically for crabgrass control—according to the instructions on the bottle.
Keep an eye out for crabgrass and spot-treat emerging weeds as needed. Crabgrass is recognizable for its pointed, wide leaves that all grow from a shared stem. Finally, going forward, take care not to mow your lawn too short. A grass height of two to two-and-a-half inches is ideal. Cutting the grass too short allows for more sun to come through, which can foster crabgrass growth.
Keep your lawn healthy, beautiful, and free of crabgrass with services from Nature Plus Lawn & Irrigation of Cincinnati, OH. These lawn care professionals have over 25 years of experience and are known for creating lush, green lawns. They run a soil test on every new lawn they treat to create a customized care plan. Visit their website for a complete list of services, including grub control, aeration, irrigation, and fertilization. For an estimate, call (513) 755-9434.
