How to Control Crabgrass

Crabgrass is considered to be a weed. It spreads quickly and thrives in both high temperatures and dry weather conditions. It's unrealistic to expect your lawn to be free of crabgrass, but there are some ways to minimize it and prevent future growth. One of the best ways to control crabgrass are to create a dense, healthy lawn. Another is to stop crabgrass by destroying the seeds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Fertilize your lawn in the spring and fall. Avoid summer fertilization. During high temperatures, crabgrass will benefit more from fertilization than turf grasses.

2. Water your lawn once a week. Turf that has frequent light waterings or that is watered too heavily is more vulnerable to crabgrass.

3. Adjust the height of your mower, and mow to 2.5 to 3 inches. Higher grass provides shade and a cooler soil which keeps the crabgrass from germinating. Crabgrass plants can produce seeds even at very low mowing heights.

4. Use a pre-emergent weed killer early in the spring to destroy crabgrass seeds. Repeat applications may be necessary. Read manufacturer directions about when to apply and how often, or consult with a lawn-care specialist.

5. Reseed thin patches in your law in late summer. If you seed too early, the pre-emergent weed killer will kill the newly seeded grass along with the crabgrass.

6. Control crabgrass in garden beds by hand-pulling them from the ground and applying mulch. Composted yard waste, landscape fabrics and wood mulch will control crabgrass by blocking sunlight. Rake the mulch if it has been sitting on the soil for awhile.