|
CRABGRASS CONTROL TIPS FOR
EFFECTIVE CONTROL
A dense, healthy lawn is
the best defense against crabgrass and other troublesome
weeds. In gardens mulch often prevents crabgrass
problems.
Lifecycle
Crabgrass is one of the most invasive annual grasses in
lawns and gardens. It germinates from seed in spring,
grows and flowers in summer. Then it produces seed and
dies after a killing frost in the fall. The crabgrass
seeds wait to germinate in early spring when the
forsythia blooms.
Appearance
Crabgrass is a bunch-type grass with erect stems and
pale green leaves about ¼ inch wide that taper to a
point. Small greenish flowers form along 3 to 10
finger-like branches at the top of the stem.
Lawn & Garden
Locations
The most likely places to find crabgrass are sunny areas
with thin or closely mown turf, heavy-traffic areas or
spots along the driveway where the soil has been
disturbed. Crabgrass also invades flower and vegetable
gardens where the soil has been tilled or raked.
The Need for Control
Crabgrass sneaks into areas unnoticed in spring but
becomes an eyesore during summer, fall and winter. It
stands out in a vigorous lawn due to its low, bunch-type
growth habit, light green color and rate of growth. Its
finger-like seed branches also attract attention in
summer. Most noticeable in fall, crabgrass turns brown
after the first hard frost, leaving brown patches
throughout a lawn.
Control Strategy
Control is very simple. Timing is critical. In early
spring when crabgrass seeds are just waiting to
germinate in warm, moist soil (usually when forsythia is
in bloom), apply a pre-emergent crabgrass control.
On ESTABLISHED LAWNS
where no seeding has been done for 6 months, and
fertilization is desired, apply Greenlawn Crabgrass
Preventer & Fertilizer in early spring. If you are
interested in only controlling crabgrass, apply
Crabgrass Killer with Team or Crabgrass Killer with
Balan. If a fertilizer application has already been
made, control crabgrass with Crabgrass Killer with
Tupersan.
On NEWLY SEEDED LAWNS
where seeding has been done in the last 6 months; apply
Greenlawn Crabgrass Preventer and Turf Starter. This
product controls the germinating crabgrass without
hurting the new desirable grasses. The Turf Starter
fertilizer is a custom blend of major nutrients for good
rooting and growth of lawn grasses.
In SPRING GARDENS, apply
Preen n’ Green around established perennials. Follow
directions carefully for instructions in areas where
seeds are sown directly.
|
