CHARACTERISTICS
Crabgrass is a low growing annual weed that can become established in lawns. It has pale bluish-green blades 2 to 5 inches long. Stems form roots at the lower joints. Seeds form by the thousands on plants in summer. Seed deposited on the ground the previous fall germinates in mid-spring. Crabgrass thrives in lawns that are improperly watered and fertilized. Left unchecked it can spread to cover large expanses in the lawn.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL
• Lush and healthy lawns are always able to out-compete crabgrass. Follow a good fertilization program, irrigate less frequently but deeper, and mow the grass as high as is practical. Crabgrass seed needs high light levels to germinate, so cutting the lawn higher will shade the roots and provide less light.
• Herbicides called pre-emergents will help to control crabgrass by
preventing the seed from germinating. It must be applied before
the seed germinates in spring to be effective. Pre-emergents are
available in a granular formulation mixed with lawn fertilizer.
• A post-emergent herbicide is applied to actively growing crabgrass plants. Both methods may give some control, but keeping your lawn lush and healthy with proper cultural practices will keep crabgrass from becoming established in the first place. (to print, right-click on this page)