Granular Herbicide for Crabgrass

Use herbicides to keep crabgrass out of your lawn.

Crabgrass, the bane of many homeowners, is an annual grass that invades otherwise pristine lawns, spewing seeds and damaging desirable lawn grasses. Smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischamum) and hairy crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) are vigorous grasses that must be controlled diligently. A healthy, thick lawn is the best defense, but once crabgrass appears in your lawn, you may need herbicides to vanquish this pest.

Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Pre-emergent herbicides keep crabgrass seeds from germinating. Crabgrass seeds sprout between April and September, depending upon your region of the country. Treat the lawn about two weeks before crabgrass germinates in your area. According to the Texas Cooperative Extension's website, effective pre-emergent herbicides include Balan, Barricade and Betasan. The University of Arkansas website recommends Hi-Yield Crabgrass Preventer, Pennington Crabgrass Preventer and Halts Crabgrass Preventer, among others.

Post-Emergent Herbicides

Once crabgrass starts to grow in your lawn, go shopping for a post-emergent herbicide. Post-emergent herbicids usually require more than one application, one to two weeks apart. Herbicides with methanearsonate are the most effective, according to the Ohio State University website. Follow package directions for proper application. Some effective brands of post-emergent herbicides for crabgrass include Fertilome Crabgrass, Nutgrass and Dallisgrass Killer, Green Light MSMA Crabgrass Killer and Weed-B-Gon Crabgrass Killer for lawns.

Weed and Feed Herbicides

The University of Arkansas maintains a Consumer Herbicide Inventory website that lists several granular weed and feed formulas to eliminate crabgrass while simultaneously fertilizing the lawn. The site recommends Vigoro Ultra Turf Weed and Feed 28-3-3, Lesco Weed & Feed 18-2-9, Ferti-lome Weed-Out Plus Lawn Fertilizer 25-4-4 and Scotts Bonus S Weed and Feed.

Applying Herbicides

Use a broadcast, drop or centrifugal spreader to ensure even distribution of the granular herbicide. Follow manufacturer's directions for settings, or check the label on the herbicide package for information on which setting to use for your brand of spreader. You can also use a shaker can to apply herbicide, a method best used for spot control rather than whole lawn applications.

References

• Iowa State University Extension: Crabgrass in the Lawn
• Ohio State University: Annual Grass Weed Control in Home Lawns
• University of Arkansas: Weed Control for Home Lawns
• University of Arkansas: Consumer Herbicide Inventory
• University of Arkansas: Herbicide Application

Resources

• University of Arkansas: Home Lawn Weed Control