How to Get Rid of Crab Grass
Crab grass is one of the most common weeds lawn owners and gardeners deal with. It spreads very quickly, and while you might not be able to get rid of it totally, there are some ways to keep it off your lawn for most of the time.
What You’ll Need:
Lawn mower
Water
Herbicides
Mulch
Grass seeds
Opt For Longer Lawn Grass
It’s nice to have short and trimmed grass, but as much as possible, try to keep your grass at a long and healthy length. Short grass allows crab grass to thrive, but long grass smothers it, preventing it from germinating. Keep your lawn full and thick, with a grass height that’s at least two to three inches. Most turf grass species can grow well at those lengths.
When You See It, Remove It
crab grassWhile it’s not easy and does not yield long term solution, pulling crab grass by hand is a good idea. This will prevent the weed from spreading. Walk around the lawn after watering, at least once a week, and when you see some crab grass, pull it up immediately. Make sure you remove it completely, well down to its root system. Every time you see new crabgrass growing, remove it, because this weed grows and spreads very quickly.
Limit Your Watering
Too much water in your lawn makes it susceptible to crab grass. To solve this, water your lawn frequently, but lightly. It’s also okay to have seldom waterings, but those that goes four to six inches deep. Let the grounds dry in between waterings. Not only does this prevent shallow-rooted crab grass from germinating, it also allows the turf grass to grow deep root systems, improving its health.
Don’t Leave Bare Spots
When you pull up crabgrass or other plants, never leave the soil empty. As much as possible, fill in these bare spots. You can either plant new grass seeds or mulch them. Bare spots can also appear when other weeds get in your lawn, so keep an eye out for these.
Use Herbicides
You can use chemical herbicides to treat crab grass. The best treatment would be to use pre-emergent herbicides. These act by preventing crab grass seeds from sprouting. Spray it on your lawn when the temperatures in autumn reach 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t use post-mergent herbicide though, because they only kill very young crab grass.
Try Corn Gluten Meal
If you’re afraid of using synthetic chemical herbicide on your lawn, an effective alternative is to use corn gluten meal. This is a natural corn by-product, used for lawns and gardens. Corn gluten meal doesn’t directly kill the seeds, but rather interferes with their root system development. If the soil becomes dry then, the seedlings die and become dehydrated. Apply this during the early months of spring.
Crab grass might seem harmless, but in the long run, they can ruin the look of your lawn. Try these preventive methods and treatment to purge this unpleasant weed from your lovely grass.