Crushing Crabgrass Identifying It, Effects and Treatment

Crabgrass is one of the most common weeds that Long Island homeowners come across. It can be difficult to remove and it can cause serious problems if left untreated. In this blog post, we will go over all you need to know about crabgrass - what it looks like, how it affects your lawn and garden, and what you can do to get rid of it for good!

Crabgrass is a type of grass that has either a reddish-brown or light and milky color at the center of the bloom, with pointed leaves. It tends to grow much taller than other types of lawn grass, reaching up to eighteen inches tall in some cases! It grows best in the environment it enjoys: hot and hazy! Late summers on Long Island are notorious for providing the exact type of environment that crabgrass easily thrives in.

Let’s first take a look at identifying this pest! Do you notice any patches of thick bladed grass that appear light (or sometimes darker) in color than the other natural surrounding grass? Does this grass patch tend to grow outward from a center point while maintaining some "stalk-like" appendages on the lengthier growths? Did you notice this patch in the hotter months of the summer? Odds are what you're looking at is crabgrass.

So what are the effects of crabgrass once it has taken root in my yard? Let's take a look: Crabgrass, once taken hold, spreads quickly from its root system - this can be problematic because it will overtake your beautiful garden or yard very quickly. A single weed system can produce hundreds of seeds, turning a small problem into a much larger one in very little time at all. It is also harmful to your lawn because crabgrass does not have deep roots, meaning the crabgrass has first dibs on any 'good stuff' entering the soil's top layer, leaving the soil unable to absorb water and nutrients the way it normally would. Long Island homeowners who treat their yard for crabgrass should make sure they use a treatment that is specifically designed for this type of weed. Long Island homeowners should also make sure to keep their lawn watered and fertilized in advance, as this will prevent crabgrass from taking root in the first place!

How To Eliminate crabgrass:

-Identify the areas of your lawn where crabgrass is growing and treat it specifically with a weed killer that is made for crabgrass. There are many Long Island homeowners who swear by Ortho Weed B Gon Crabgrass Killer, which can be found at most hardware stores. Make sure to read the instructions on the bottle carefully, and always wear protective gear when dealing with pesticide/herbicide chemicals.
- Long Island homeowners should ensure that the lawn is watered and fertilized in advance, as this will prevent crabgrass from taking root in the first place! When a lawn is well seeded early in spring, and early in fall, it ensures a healthy bed of grass throughout the entirety of the lawn. In a sense, a thicker lawn is harder for crabgrass to take hold in, because the healthy and desirable grasses "choke out" the crabgrass before it has a chance to take root.
- Long Island landscapers often recommend Long Islanders use a crab grass pre-emergent herbicide. This needs to be applied before the seeds germinate so they do not have time to take over your lawn! Long Island homeowners can purchase this online or at any home improvement store. Make sure to always read and follow instructions when using pre-emergent treatments. Keep in mind, there may be times throughout some landscaping maintenance cycles when using a pre-emergent will have more negative effects on your lawn than positive (like right before overseeding). If you overseed your yard in spring, every other year, and your yard is due to be seeded this spring, it won't be wise to use pre-emergents since the herbicide will likely kill off your freshly laid grass seed. If you're unsure, feel free to give us a call.

If crabgrass is an existing problem in your yard, feel free to give us a call and consult with us regarding our weeding services! We're always here and happy to help!

Clean Cut Cleanups
Phone: (631)626-4956
Email: cleancutcleanups@yahoo.com