With the warm February we’ve had spring seems closer than ever before. Before we know it, trees will be budding and bulbs will be popping up from the ground. Along with the beautiful signs of warmer spring days comes some other not-so-welcome guests including crabgrass.
Crabgrass is one of the most common weeds you’ll find in homes throughout the North Shore area. It is also one of the most common complaints we get at Martin John Company. We often hear our customers say “Help! My landscaping is becoming ruined by crabgrass”. Don’t worry, we are always here to help will all of your lawn care needs. In the meantime, here are some things you should know about crabgrass and how to keep it from taking over your lawn.
- The best way to stop crabgrass from taking over the lawn is to prevent it from sprouting in the first place. This variety only needs about 24-48 hours of 55+ degree soil temperature to germinate.
- When watching your soil for rises in temperature keep in mind that the type of soil and where it’s located matters. Sandy soil heats faster than clay-based and sunny area temperatures will rise quicker than shaded spot ones.
- Use a pre-emergent herbicide before the first signs of crabgrass. Do not use this type of herbicide though if crabgrass is already present or if you have just installed sod.
- Post-emergent herbicide can be used when crabgrass has already germinated and is present. Apply the herbicide only to crabgrass as it can kill certain varieties of grass. In fact, if you begin to notice a browning landscape, you have used too much herbicide. You will also want to follow-up with a second treatment to kill any crabgrass that has germinated since the initial application.
It is important to be very careful when applying herbicides as they can kill many types of grass as well the crabgrass weed itself. A professional expert such as Martin John Company can help you better navigate this tricky task.
At Martin John Company, we want to help our clients maintain healthy, beautiful lawns all year long. Not only are we here to help with basic needs such as weed management and lawn cutting, we can also assist with your more extensive projects. From poor drainage to hardscape installation, Martin John Company is the preeminent landscaping leader in the Chicago area.
Let us help you tackle that crabgrass and more! Contact us today.