Crab grass is a problem in many lawns. It often grows more quickly than desired species, usually is a different color and always a different texture, and spreads quickly. It’s no surprise that getting rid of crab grass can be a top priority for many homeowners and grounds keepers. So what is the best crab grass cure; how do you kill crabgrass?
Best Crab Grass Cure
The best crab grass cure is a healthy dense turf. Keep in mind that keeping all crabgrass out of your lawn is an unrealistic goal; from time to time it will appear. After all, a single plant can produce over 150,000 seeds! But a solid turf will help prevent crab grass from becoming established. Developing strong turf requires proper mowing techniques, good watering practices, and the proper application of fertilizer, and for the best results this is a process you can feel confident in letting a professional manage. Parkway Lawn Service is that professional for the southwest Twin Cities, Minnesota. Our service is available in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, and Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Once crab grass has become established, however, you’ll probably want to step up to the next level, which is having your lawn professional apply crab grass treatments designed to specifically prevent or kill crabgrass. This can be particularly true with damaged lawns, lawns in need of maintenance, and new lawns. One of the most effective tools in this arsenal is pre-emergent herbicides. These herbicides prevent crabgrass seeds from sprouting by inhibiting a key enzyme. Timing the application of these herbicides is critical; too early and it washes too deeply into the ground, too late and the seeds are already sprouting.
Post-emergent herbicides are applied after crab grass has established itself. Getting rid of crabgrass is more difficult at this point. Post-emergent herbicides work best on smaller plants, so early detection is important. These herbicides are much more difficult to work with and if applied incorrectly can actually damage your lawn further.
Later in the year the best tactic to kill crab grass is to mow, power rake, apply the proper fertilizers in the proper doses and wait for the cold to kill it. Preparing the soil for the proper strategy in the spring will be the best strategy for the late summer and early autumn.
The best long-term crabgrass cure is regularly scheduled professional lawn maintenance.
What Does Crabgrass Look Like?
Crabgrass usually has wide leaves that spread out from the center in a star-like fashion and that lay flat on the ground. It spreads outward via runners. Because most crabgrass is annual, once it dies in the fall it can leave unsightly bare patches in your lawn; an excellent place to start new crab grass seedlings in the spring. Crabgrass typically out-competes more desirable species in the early summer, making it difficult to dislodge later in the year, which may be another sign of its presence; if you see different colored grasses in your yard this may be due to the presence of crabgrass. (It may also be due to the presence of a lawn disease.)
What To Do
So what can you do if you see crab grass or some other strange grass in your MN lawn? The best thing is to have the professionals at Parkway Lawn Service take a look at it. We can identify the problem and put together a lawn maintenance strategy to take care of it. Regular lawn maintenance including lawn mowing, fertilization, aeration, and de-thatching will help build a strong lawn that will withstand most diseases and invasive species, and proper application of the correct agents will take care of the rest.
With the caring staff at Parkway Lawn Service you can relax and enjoy your lawn; knowing that you have the best possible service taking care of everything from grass cutting to lawn health.
Call Parkway Lawn Service at 612-869-5878 and discover how carefree your lawn can be!
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