How to Remove Dead Crabgrass

Keep your turf in its pH range to prevent crabgrass growth.

Dead crabgrass is generally a celebratory event for gardeners. Crabgrass is a weed that crowds out and competes with grass. As a warm-season grass type, this weed is able to spring up after the last frost. Gardeners who do not spray pre-emergent herbicide may see this grass growing in their yard. Unhealthy yards are often the cause of crabgrass growth. Early fertilization can encourage this grass to grow and expand over the lawn.

Things You'll Need

• Chalk
• Garden hose
• Shovel
• Wheelbarrow
• Tiller
• Hand held seeder
• Compost
• Rake

Instructions

1. Examine your yard for crabgrass growth. Crabgrass is dark green and has a flower stalk that branches out in 1/8-inch intervals. Sprinkle brightly colored chalk around these areas to help you know where to remove the turf.

2. Water crabgrass areas so that the soil is saturated. Press you fingers into the first three inches of top soil. If your fingers easily press down into the soil, the soil is wet enough for crabgrass removal.

3. Drive a shovel into the earth several inches away from the crabgrass. Lift up on the shovel, so that you life the dead crabgrass from underneath.

4. Place crabgrass in a wheelbarrow and take to the trash or burn. Avoid composting weeds like crabgrass, because they still have seeds attached that can germinate in the compost bin and spread over the yard.

5. Till the areas of bare ground. Broadcast your grass seed in these tilled areas. Broadcast seeds with a hand-held seed spreader. Cover your grass seed with 1/8 inch of compost.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a post-emergent herbicide that kills crabgrass to protect your lawn.

• Avoid using a broad spectrum herbicide to kill crabgrass. The chemicals will kill all vegetation.

References

• University of California: Crabgrass