As with any landscaping, diversity is key to supporting local pollinators and wildlife and the health of your lawn. The health of your lawn and nearby plants suffers when you don’t meddle with crabgrass growth.
Usually, you will notice the growth of crabgrass from July through September. Slowly, it will take over from the paved areas to the rest of your lawn.
As the seeds of crabgrass can stay in your soil for around 15 years, you need stringent crabgrass control measures.
Hence, in this blog, we will go through the effective techniques for crabgrass control.
Learn more: Natural Solutions for an Attractive Lawn: Organic Lawn Care 101
Why Do You Need Crabgrass Control?
Crabgrass is an annual weed that spreads quickly if you don’t take measures for crabgrass control. It sprouts in the spring and continues expanding all summer long.
It prefers dry heat and poor soil, which may be why your yard is overgrown with crabgrass. Hence, crabgrass control in summer is mandatory for all lawn owners.
Like a crab moving across the sand, they seem to creep out of the ground and across the grass. The seeds stay in the ground for several years, making them extremely difficult to eradicate.
For crabgrass control, you need to spot it first. It looks dark green and grows from a single root. Healthy grass blades grow erect, while crabgrass grows out and looks clumpy.
Because of the invasive nature, crabgrass will have no trouble choking out your grass and other natural plants.
Read More: Say Goodbye to Weeds: Tips for Successful Weed Control
How to Get Rid of Crabgrass: 7 Methods for Crabgrass Control
If you want to know how to get rid of crabgrass, here are the useful methods:
1. Pull the Grass
One useful tactic for crabgrass control is to pull each crabgrass plant separately.
One of the most reliable ways to eliminate crabgrass is to remove it at the root, but this method requires patience and time, especially if it has taken over a large section of your lawn.
It is best to pull weeds in late spring before the crabgrass plant gets too big and starts to seed itself.
The best time to do this weeding task is right after rain when the soil is soft and damp.
If someone has told you that cutting it short is a good way to control crabgrass, don’t believe them.
Even at just half inches tall, it can produce seeds. Getting the roots as soon as possible is crucial, just like with other weeds.
2. Water Resource Management
The time and volume of irrigation can also influence crabgrass germination and growth. Therefore, you need to manage your sprinklers and water regimen for crabgrass control.
The grass that is overwatered or receives light watering on a daily basis attracts crabgrass. Also, turf vitality can be increased by weekly irrigation.
Crabgrass initially emerges in bare, open spaces, beside sidewalks where the ground may be warmer, or under sprinkler heads where the grass is clipped more carefully.
Hence, you need to start inspecting these areas for crabgrass control.
Also Read: Sprinkler Installation 101: How to Install an Underground Sprinkler System
3. Use a Variety of Herbicides
Topical application is a typical choice for the eradication of weeds. However, not all herbicides are made equally.
Here is some information to assist you in your progress with crabgrass.
Selective products are useful because they target certain weeds without causing long-term harm to the nearby grass.
Also, since crabgrass is a grass and not a broadleaf weed, you require a treatment that targets invasive grasses.
In addition to that, pre and post-emergent weed killers are the two primary categories.
Pre-emergent herbicides are chemicals applied to lawns before weeds germinate to stop them from sprouting.
Post-emergent herbicides are chemicals that are applied after weeds have already emerged. They will help with crabgrass control for the weeds sprouting on your lawn.
Lastly, both liquid and granular alternatives function just as well. However, a calibrated sprayer is necessary for liquid products. But, it may be tricky for you to use them.
So, if you lack prior experience, go for the granular herbicides for crabgrass control.
Carefully hydrate as directed by the product after application. Another important factor that must never be overlooked is examining product labels to make sure the sort of grass you are using is allowed.
Furthermore, weeds and feed types that blend fertilizer and pesticides should be avoided. These treatments will actually feed the invaders because crabgrass is a type of grass.
If you want to learn how to manage different kinds of weeds, read our blog on Guide To Understanding & Managing Different Types of Weeds.
4. Mulch Your Lawn
By obstructing the sunlight that crabgrass needs for germination, establishment, and growth, you can use mulching.
This mulch can be made of wood products, such as wood chips or nuggets, composted yard trash, or synthetic landscape fabrics.
These help in crabgrass control by minimizing crabgrass in shrub beds, bedding plants, and around trees.
The size of the particles in mulch determines how deep it should be applied. For example, coarse mulch may need to be applied 3 to 6 inches deep to completely suppress weeds.
On the other hand, you need to apply finer mulch 2 to 3 inches deep. Because landscaping mulches settle, decompose, or shift, plan to refill them on a regular basis.
After degrading in the soil for some time, organic mulches might be a suitable growth medium for weeds to sprout and spread. If crabgrass is starting to germinate in the mulch, use a rake to disperse it to prevent seedling establishment.
5. Burn the Crabgrass
For effective crabgrass control, you need to remove runaway crabgrass plants by hand before their seeding.
You can control crabgrass seedlings by flaming them with a hand-held burner. However, do not ignite the mulch if it contains wood chips, compost, or other combustible material.
6. Mow the Grass
You can deter crabgrass by cutting your grass at the right height. Taller grass blades can shade the soil if you mow them higher. For that, you need to keep the mower at one of the top two settings. This helps stop crabgrass seeds from germinating.
7. Solarization of Crabgrass
If you apply soil solarization with clear plastic during times of high solar radiation, it works well for crabgrass control.
When you cover the crabgrass with plastic for several weeks, the heat will trap in the ground. Eventually, due to the high temperature, the crabgrass will die.
When you use this method for crabgrass control, ensure the soil is moist.
FAQs
Is crabgrass an ongoing issue?
Because crabgrass generates thousands of seeds that can linger in the soil for years, it can be a persistent issue.
How do I avoid getting crabgrass?
Use a pre-emergent herbicide in the early spring to stop crabgrass before the seeds sprout. It’s important to time the herbicide application so that it occurs before the soil temperature reaches 55°F, which is when crabgrass seeds usually start to sprout.
How to control crabgrass?
Use a post-emergent herbicide specifically for controlling crabgrass to eradicate existing plants.
Contact Falcons Landscaping for Crabgrass Control in Mississauga
These were all the effective methods you can use for crabgrass control.
Nevertheless, crabgrass infestations will decrease over time with regular lawn maintenance, which includes adequate fertilizer, watering, and the application of pre-emergent herbicides.
If you need help with weed control, you can also get in touch with our lawn care services in Mississauga.
We can not only eradicate any kind of weed but also help you achieve the healthy lawn you always wanted.