Garden State

Crabgrass is an annual weed that wreaks havoc on beautiful green landscaped yards. Once it takes hold in the soil it has taken up permanent residence unless you know the proper procedures to help prevent the impending weed takeover. Populated by seed like dandelions, crabgrass is an aggressive spreader and chokes out the life of the good grass, like Bermuda grass that you spent hundreds of dollars seeding across the landscape.

Manually pulling crabgrass by hand is an option when you only have a few sprouts to deal with. Otherwise, the most common and effective crabgrass control methods include:

Constant care, upkeep and proper lawn maintenance will help deter crabgrass seed germination and growth.

Adjust your mower blade for medium height, making sure to use a sharp blade. Crabgrass prefers adequate sun, and taller blades of grass tend to shadow the weed and starve it from much needed sunlight.

When you water your lawn, water it deep to the roots and don’t water as often, as the water tends to quickly germinate the crabgrass seeds.

Maintaining a well-fertilized lawn keeps the good grass growing thicker to push out the weeds that are growing around it.
Pre-emergent-herbicides will help control the germination process.

Concerned about the environment? Concerned about your kids’ health and exposure to toxic herbicides and pesticides? Then look for a more natural approach to the problem. If you only have a beginning crabgrass problem, try a homemade mixture of a half-cup of vinegar and one teaspoon dishwashing liquid, applied around the base of the plant.

Sponsor: Greg Tanzer Sprinklers