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Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Banish crabgrass from your lawn in days with an easy 5-step gardening method
Crabgrass can be a nightmare for gardeners, but there are ways to tackle the pesky weed. Here's how to get rid of crabgrass in your lawn in five simple steps. Plenty of gardeners ignore crabgrass despite its minor perks, such as providing a home for wildlife and acting as a quick fix for bare ground. But this pesky invader's lightning-fast spread and unsightly clumps can swiftly smother a pristine lawn; crabgrass thrives in hot, parched spots, and each plant can churn out a staggering 150,000 seeds. Though it typically snuffs it when the frost hits, you're left with ugly bald spots that wreck your green carpet's good looks. Clint Waltz, PhD, a turf expert at the University of Georgia, has warned lawn-loving gardeners to tackle this grassy menace before it's too late. He said: "It's a prolific seed producer. If you do nothing about it this year, expect a higher and more dense population of crabgrass next year." Crabgrass pops up in spring and keeps sprouting all summer long. Being an annual plant, it croaks after the first hard freeze, but those seeds hang about for years, just waiting to spring back to life, reports the Express. Reaching for chemicals might seem like the obvious quick fix for time-pressed gardeners, but Clint cautioned that zapping crabgrass with weedkiller is a bit of a gamble. Herbicides target specific grass types, so picking the wrong one could spell disaster for your cherished turf. That's precisely why you need to suss out what type of grass you've got before unleashing any chemical warfare. You might fancy trying scalding water or horticultural vinegar to see off crabgrass, but since these methods don't discriminate, they could take out your prized grass too. How to banish crabgrass 1. Find the right herbicide Fluazifop works on tall fescue and zoysia grass types, while Quinclorac is suitable for tall fescue, zoysia, and Kentucky blue—also known as "smooth stalked meadow grass." 2. Spot treat crabgrass patches Once you've identified the correct product for your grass variety, target-spray the solution directly onto the crabgrass. Results typically appear within seven to 10 days, with the crabgrass yellowing and browning. Clint explains that if crabgrass still looks vigorous after 21 days, a second treatment might be necessary. For widespread problems, apply the appropriate herbicide across your entire lawn following the manufacturer's guidelines. This is recommended when 50 to 70% of your lawn is infested with crabgrass. 3. Mow your lawn Several days following herbicide treatment, cut your grass to hide the discoloured patches. 4. Hand-weed strays If you'd rather avoid herbicides, you might choose to remove crabgrass manually, though this works best with just a few scattered plants rather than widespread coverage. It's also worthwhile doing after treatment and mowing to catch any remaining weeds. 5. Prevent new growth Like most garden pests, prevention beats cure. Your first defence is a thriving lawn that's cut to the proper height and receives adequate feeding and watering. Additionally, Clint recommends applying a pre-emergence treatment in spring. Time this for early to mid-spring whilst soil surface temperatures remain below 12C.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Say goodbye to Crabgrass: Discover the secret to a weed-free lawn
Crabgrass is a type of weed that often grows in lawns and gardens without being planted. It spreads quickly, especially in hot or dry weather, and can take over healthy grass if not controlled. If someone has a lawn, they probably have crabgrass. It makes lots of seeds, and if not controlled on time, it tends to increase with the passage of time. Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass extension specialist at the University of Georgia, said, 'It's a prolific seed producer,' according to the online platform Southern Living. 'If you do nothing about it this year, expect a higher and denser population of crabgrass next year,' Waltz added. Waltz further stated that crabgrass initially appears in the spring, but new plants keep germinating throughout the summer. Crabgrass is killed off by the first frost. But it's too late by then, as there are probably thousands of seeds sitting there and waiting to germinate next year. The seeds can, in fact, possibly remain viable in the soil for years. Waltz said that there are many different types of crabgrass but to get rid of them, use the same approach. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Al Hilla: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The best way to stop crabgrass is by using a pre-emergence product in spring, which keeps weed seeds from growing. But if you missed spring, you can still remove crabgrass when it appears in your lawn during summer. How to kill Crabgrass in your lawn If you spot crabgrass in your lawn by mid- or late summer, it probably means you didn't use a pre-emergence herbicide in spring. But you can still control it by following these steps: Live Events 1. Pull out crabgrass plants by hand if there are only a few. 2. Find out what type of grass you have before using any herbicide, because the wrong one can damage your lawn. If you're unsure, ask your local university co-op extension for help. 3. Pick the right post-emergence herbicide for your grass type. These are usually sold at landscape or seed stores, not big-box shops. 4. Check the label for these ingredients and use them as directed: - Sethoxydim: for centipede grass and fescues - Fluazifop: for tall fescue and zoysia - Quinclorac: for Bermuda, tall fescue, zoysia, and Kentucky bluegrass Spray the crabgrass directly with the product. You'll usually see the crabgrass turn yellow or brown in 7 to 10 days. If some crabgrass still looks healthy after 21 days, spray again, according to Waltz. He also suggested that If crabgrass covers most of your lawn (about 50-70%), spray the whole lawn as per the label instructions. After spraying, wait a few days and then mow your lawn to help hide the discolored spots. Start spraying as soon as you see crabgrass, but if it's late summer and frost is near, don't bother—frost will kill crabgrass anyway. Don't rely on DIY remedies, and also don't use home remedies like boiling water or vinegar, as they can harm your good grass and don't kill the roots. To prevent crabgrass, keep your lawn thick and healthy by mowing at the right height and using the right fertilizer and water.
