Both summer annuals, large crabgrass, and smooth crabgrass are possibly the most annoying and ugliest weeds that invade your lawns and unfortunately, you have to compromise with the beauty of your lawn. If you’re dealing with crabgrass, don’t expect it to be an easy kill. You have to plan and follow the instructions to treat your lawn with crabgrass preventers for at least two seasons because the enormous volume of seeds produced by the weed makes it difficult to completely eradicate it in one season.
Here are some of the steps to get rid of crabgrass
Wait for your second spring mowing and after that apply the pre-emergent herbicides. Use fertilizer with crabgrass preventer, after checking the key ingredients, added to it to save time. Recognize and remove crabgrass early and look for immature crabgrass seed heads and wait for them to mature perfectly. After that, spray stubborn patches of crabgrass which will help in killing immature crabgrass patches with herbicide.
Fight crabgrass with a healthy lawn as the thick grass will not let the seeds sprout. Go for the double dose of herbicide to crabgrass hotspots. If all else fails, kill everything and start over. Expose bare soil, and kill off patches of lawn with nonselective herbicide in the fall if more than half the area is weeds. Furrow the dirt with a spade for seeding of patchy bare areas and turf-free areas up to the area of 8 square feet. Broadcast the seeds and then consider chemical-free crabgrass control methods.
Though Crabgrass is a tough opponent being an opportunistic plant but with a lawn spreader, a pump sprayer, and a few turf products you can eventually get rid of the ugly crabgrass in the spring and control it throughout the summer. Therefore, we are mentioning here some of the products that can help in eliminating the crabgrass and other weed plants that destroy the looks of your lawn. Later use a lawn sprinkler to get the crabgrass killers deep in their roots.
1. BioAdvanced 704119 A Ready to Spray Extremely Effective Crabgrass Herbicide
It is one of the best and specialized crabgrass killers which not only kills large, hairy, and smooth crabgrass but also kills the foxtails, Sandbur, Japanese Stiltgrass, Barnyardgrass, Goosegrass (Silver Crabgrass), Jasongrass, and Panicum. It has the capability to kill over 200 grassy weeds. It is not only used for lawns but also for ornaments and northern turfs such as rescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. It has a special formula where the special crabgrass solution kills to the very root. It also provides rainproof protection within 1 hour.
When to use: For the best results apply between 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit as the temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit allows for better product absorption and damage can occur above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Just make it hooked to the hose and spray and treats up to the area of five thousand square feet. Therefore, it is ideal for larger areas, just keep spraying and moving backward at a steady pace.
It is not meant to be used on St. Augustine, Floratum, Bermudagrass, Bentgrass, Zoysiagrass, Centipede, or Bahia lawns. Otherwise, it is safe for use on lawns when used as per directions. Please keep children and pets away when using the product. They may return to the treated area once the spray has dried.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 5 x 2.2 x 10.5 inches
Area coverage: up to 5,000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 2.39 pounds (~ 33 Ounce)
2. Preen 2464064 All Season Lawn Crabgrass Control by Lebanon Seaboard Corporation
This product has the capability to stop crabgrass and 40 plus different types of common lawn weeds including purslane, carpetweed, and spurge all season. It can be applied up to four weeks after crabgrass or any of the above-mentioned weeds emerges in your lawn. Moreover, it can be used on cool-season grasses: like creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass, and warm-season grasses like bahiagrass, bermudagrass, buffalograss, carpetgrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass. It approximately covers up to the areas of five thousand square feet. The application of this product must be done according to the instructions provided. It can also be used for pre or post-emergent seasonal grasses. It must be applied using a drop or rotary spreader that is specifically designed for granular lawn care products.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 17 x 5.75 x 11.75 inches
Area coverage: up to 5,000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 1 pounds (15 lb)
3. 100099405 Kills Nutsedge Concentrate Formula by Image
This product by Image label kills nutsedge; a tough weed in lawns. It is a post-emergent and a selective herbicide that is known for its use in southern turfgrass and selected landscape ornamentals along with bermudagrass, buffalograss, carpetgrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass. It is being manufactured and used all over the United States of America. It can be used for application following the spring green-up and preceding the onset of winter dormancy. It is used to mainly kill dollarweed, Annual bluegrass, wild onion, or wild garlic. It can be used to treat an area of up to six thousand square feet.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 4.5 x 9 inches
Area coverage: up to 6,000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 1.74 pounds (24 Ounce)
4. 9994110 Ready to Spray Weed B Gon Plus Crabgrass Control by Ortho
This weed killer is a ready to spray product by ortho with its specialty in killing crabgrass, dandelions, creeping charlie and other common types of lawn weeds. It kills almost 200 plus types of weeds to the roots. It guaranteed to protect the lawn when used as per instructions. It’s effective and immediately starts working. It is rainproof within 1 hour and you can see the results within 24 hours. It treats up to the area of five thousand square feet.
It is ready to use and in concentrated form. The temporary discoloration may occur to Bermuda Grass. It is not meant to be used for the following lawns: St. Augustinegrass, Centipede or Bahia Grass lawns.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 2.33 x 5.5 x 11.25 inches
Area coverage: up to 5,000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 2.42 pounds (32 Ounce)
5. 5200210 Ready to Use Weed & Grass Killer III along with Comfort Wand by RoundUp
5200210 Ready to Use Weed & Grass Killer III along with Comfort Wand by RoundUp is made especially with a purpose to kill the toughest types of weeds and grasses to the root. It is convenient to use having no-mix formula. It is used in and around vegetable gardens, flower beds, lawns, tree rings, and mulched beds, as well as on cracks in driveways, walkways, and patios. In short, it serves in a lot of places.
This product features the ability to rainproof within the shortest time period of 10 minutes with the clear visibility of results in 3 hours. It has a compound known as glyphosate which attacks the enzyme found in plants only hence it is safe for people and pets. It has a special comfort wand for the use which makes it a lot easier to spray over affected patches. This wand has extended reach with the ability of continuous spray so you don’t have to bend over and no more hand fatigue is involved.
It treats an area of up to 400 square feet.It kills weeds to the root so they don’t grow and come back. When sprayed over the leaves, the absorbed no-mix formula goes through the leaves, and it goes all the way to the root for a total kill. It is the most simple way to keep your driveway, patio and mulched beds looking good.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 5.75 x 9.38 x 12.5 inches
Area coverage: up to 400 sq. ft
Item Weight: 12.48 pounds (1.33 GAL)
6. Quinclorac 1.5 Select (Drive XLR8) Liquid Crabgrass Killer by Primesource
Quinclorac 1.5L fluid herbicide is the most recent innovation in giving top notch crabgrass control. Nonetheless, Quinclorac 1.5L treats and controls a wide assortment of different grasses and broadleaf weeds in private yards, business foundations, greens, military, and different organizations, just as parks, athletic fields, and numerous others. When contrasted with a dry flowable formulation, the new fluid detailing offers unrivaled outcomes. It is unequivocally prescribed to utilize Methylated Seed oil as an adjuvant to assist the herbicide with being consumed by the weeds.
The Quinclorac concentration is 18.92 percent. It can be used for residential and non-residential Turfgrass, Golf Course, Sod Farms. It requires a Tank mix partner or sequential application.It is preferable to make 2 sequential applications of 1.0 fl. oz. (0.51 lb. AI/A) of Quinclorac 1.5L Select per 1,000 sq. ft. and an additional sequential application up to 0.90 fl. oz. (0.46 lb. AI/A) of Quinclorac 1.5L Select per 1,000 sq. ft. at 14 to 21 day interval difference. Different biotypes involving both large and smooth crabgrass in the region of California have shown varied responses to Quinclorac 1.5L select.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 3.9 x 1.5 inches
Area coverage: up to 1000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 10.4 ounces
7. Roundup for Lawns 4 Ready-To-Spray (Southern) by Scotts Ortho Roundup
It helps in killing 93 types of weeds. It is made to kill weeds, not the lawn. It is for use on southern grasses including flora tam and centipede. It kills dollar weed, dandelion, clover, and yellow nutsedge. This product features the ability to rainproof within the shortest time period of 10 minutes with the clear visibility of results in 3 hours. It has a compound known as glyphosate which attacks the enzyme found in plants only hence it is safe for people and pets. It has a special comfort wand for the use which makes it a lot easier to spray over affected patches.
Roundup For Lawns4 is a ready-to-spray explicit formula designed specifically for southern grasses that kill weeds, not the lawn. It controls over 93 common lawn weeds, roots and all, and works extremely fast on hard-to-kill weeds such as dollarweed, dandelion, clover, and yellow nutsedge. You can use it with confidence on even the most delicate southern grasses, such as Floratam and Centipede.
This ready-to-spray applicator is known to be great for the broadcast application to your entire lawn and mainly covers up to an area of 6000 square feet. In addition to that, it also features rainproof functionality in as little as 4 hours! This product by Roundup is just a simple step away from a beautiful, weed-free lawn. It works perfectly for your lawns and is even better in a combination with the product known as Roundup Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate Plus to have weed-killing options all-around your home besides your non-lawn areas such as sidewalks, patios, driveways, and garden beds.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 2.96 x 5.45 x 11.15 inches
Area coverage: up to 6000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 2.46 pounds, 32 oz
8. Quinclorac 75 DF Selective Herbicide Equivalent to Drive quali-1014 by Quali-Pro
It has an active ingredient Quinclorac 75%. It is useful for both commercial & residential sites with the following types of grasses, Turfgrass, Golf Courses, Sports Fields and Sod Farms. This product is effective against Crabgrass, Clover, Foxtail, Dandelion, Black Medic, English Daisy, Morning Glory, Dollarweed, Speedwell, Torpedograss, Kikuyugrass, Barnyardgrass, Bindweed, Signalgrass, Violet.
Quinclorac 75 DF is a water-soluble selective post-emergent herbicide that kills broadleaf weeds and grasses intolerant turf species. The mode of action is: the enzyme is absorbed by roots and foliages, then the active ingredient translocates to interfere with plant growth and cellulase production, which quickly causes plants to die. The treated weeds begin a process called chlorosis where the weed’s leaves are curled up, and change their colors and then die.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.8 x 3.8 inches
Area coverage: up to 6000 sq. ft
Item Weight: 1 pounds, 15.9 ounce
9. Weed B Gon Weed Killer for Lawns Plus Crabgrass Control Concentrate by Ortho
This product by Ortho is known for killing crabgrass, dandelions, and other common lawn weeds to their roots. There are around 200 plus types of weed that this product kills. The dial and spray multi-use hose-end sprayer makes spraying liquid weed killers, insect killers, fungicides, and fertilizers easier.
The bottle is designed for extended grip that keeps hands dry during application along with that it has a direct-connect design which makes attaching to Ortho concentrate bottles fast and easy. Also, there are 3 adjustable spray patterns and 14 dial settings, so you can trust that you are spraying the precise amount of product every time. As soon as the product is sprayed it starts working immediately.
Item Specifications:
Item Weight: 32 ounces
10. Weed Preventer Plus Lawn Food, Natural Lawn Food, Prevents Dandelions, Crabgrass, & Other Weeds by Espoma
Weed Preventer by Espoma is an all-natural weed preventer and lawn food that is typically made from pure corn gluten meal. It basically prevents dandelions, crabgrass, and any other type of common weeds.
Its specialty is that it provides long-lasting greening that won’t burn. It is safe for children and pets as they can play on the lawn immediately after the application of this product. In order to kill the weeds from roots all you have to do is to apply 2 times a year. One time in early Spring before weed seeds germinate, and one time in early Fall. It must be applied on any established lawns in residential or commercial areas. It must not be used when seeding a new lawn or during overseeding.
Item Specifications:
Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Item Weight: 25 pounds
Conclusion
A good-looking, healthy green luscious lawn is a dream of every gardener. But the weeds such as crabgrass, dandelions, clovers, and several others hinder the growth of flowers and vegetables planted in the garden.
Among all those, crabgrass is the worst nightmare of the gardener as it gives the nasty overgrown appearance in your garden. Armed with the best crabgrass killer, you will be able to control it without destroying your lawn and bring your yard back to life.
The best way to deal with the anticipation of crabgrass is solid, thick grass. On the off chance that crabgrass is a continuous issue, rethink your yard care practices to discover approaches to improve your yard and thicken your remains of grass. A top-notch grass builds up a thick overhang that conceals the dirt surface – debilitating germination and foundation of crabgrass.
Recollect while applying crabgrass preventer to peruse and following the item mark to the letter concerning application strategy, sums, timing, stockpiling, and removal of overabundance item. Wear elastic gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long jeans, eye security, socks and shoes, and some other defensive stuff suggested on the item mark. Like most herbicides, crabgrass prevention ought not be applied on blustery days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best way to get rid of crabgrass?
After the spread of crabgrass and other weed types on your grass, the most ideal method of killing the crabgrass is to buy an item including the utilization of post-emergent herbicides, pre-emergent herbicides, or non-selective herbicides as the dynamic fixing. It is safe for many turfgrasses when utilized as directed, however is successful in killing crabgrass. The best way to keep crabgrass from returning is to ensure each cluster is taken out and forestall crabgrass germination in the accompanying spring utilizing a legitimate crabgrass preventer. The granular herbicide works by making a synthetic hindrance at the outside of the dirt. As the seeds sprout, they take in the herbicide and bite the dust.
What time of year is best to kill crabgrass?
During the warm summer months, Crabgrass grows quickly and produces thousands of seeds during midsummer and early fall. Though the first frost kills the plants, the seeds remain dormant throughout the winter and begin to grow when the ground temperature rises. The key to prevent the growing and spreading of crabgrass is by making sure the seeds can’t germinate. There are several ways to prevent crabgrass seed germination.
Keep these three points in mind:
Use a pre-emergent herbicide and kill it before it comes up.
Use a post-emergent herbicide and kill it after it comes up.
By growing a healthy lawn, you can prevent it from coming back.
Should you pull crabgrass?
Usually the Crabgrass dies on its own in the fall season, that is after the first frost. However, you will have to deal with a lawn full of pesky weeds the next year compromising the aesthetics of your lawn, if you do not remove it before it disperses its seeds.The most ideal way to prevent the growing of crabgrass is to remove the weedy clumps as you see them. Pull the clumps out, roots and all with the help of your hands or by using a hand trowel or digging knife, but it should be done early in the season before the plants can produce seeds.
When should I put crabgrass preventer down?
Crabgrass preventer is a pre-emergent herbicide that works by restraining the development of seedlings. The herbicide should be applied before the seed sprouts. Crabgrass commonly develops when soil temperatures arrive at 62 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of 1 or 2 inches. Crabgrass preventer ought to be applied when soil temperatures arrive at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In the event that you apply the herbicide too soon in the spring, it might break down before the finish of the germination cycle.
What’s so bad about crabgrass?
The solitary issue with Crabgrass is that it takes a gander toward the end of Summer.If it doesn’t bother you, it isn’t doing any harm to your lawn. During the summer, these grasses slow down and sometimes go into a dormant (or semi-dormant) state. In any case, the crabgrass flourishes in the late spring conditions and this is the point at which it can rapidly build up itself in your yard.
Crabgrass is basically an ‘opportunistic’ plant and will normally fill in slight or exposed regions of your yard, yet it can likewise swarm out great grasses that are debilitated – here and there by scalping the yard (cutting excessively short), bug and sickness movement, or different issues. At that point, on top of the entirety of this, when we get a frost season, the crabgrass bites the dust, turns earthy colored, and looks much uglier.
How do I get rid of large amounts of the crabgrass?
The ideal and the best way to get rid of crabgrass is to remove the weedy clumps as soon you see them. Get rid of the small or large clumps by pulling them out from the roots. Or you can also use a garden weeder tool that is made to remove the roots of the crabgrass. Typically, these tools involve the use of claw or plunger in order to help you drive deep into the ground to remove the plant from the roots.
Can I apply crabgrass preventer twice?
You can certainly use the double dose of crabgrass preventer with a time difference. In other words, use the first preventer application dosage in early April, around the time forsythias are just over the peak of full bloom. Then apply a second round of dosage about 6 to 8 weeks later.
Another alternative for homeowners is to use the first treatment application and then let the weather decide whether you need a second treatment or not. If it’s hot and dry by late spring that means it is not very good conditions for the sprouting of crabgrass seed, skip the second round of preventer. The additional factor is how much tolerant you are of crabgrass growing in your lawn.
Can you put down crabgrass preventer too early?
Whenever utilized too soon, it can separate before the seeds begin to sprout. Whenever utilized past the point of no return, crabgrass will as of now begin taking once again your grass. Give close consideration to the temperature and attempt to apply a crabgrass preventer just before it’s forecasted to rain, if possible. Apply in late-winter to forestall the germination of crabgrass, chickweed, poa annua, and other regular yard weeds, before they begin to spread. Apply before the third or fourth cutting to secure the entire season.
Can you put down too much crabgrass preventer?
On the off chance that an applicator or gardener applies a lot of herbicide, in addition to the fact that it is not cost effective and also a mark infringement in terms of violation, this may harm the ideal turfgrass relying upon the rate and item utilized. An unnecessary application may likewise forestall the legitimate foundation of grass seed later in the season.
What does crabgrass look like on the lawn?
While crabgrass can take after your grass from the outset, it appears to be extremely unique upon additional investigation. Recently grown crabgrass can seem a light green (lighter than your turf) yet may ultimately turn a dim, dull green as it keeps on developing. The leaves of crabgrass are more extensive than grass cutting edges. Crabgrass fills in “clusters” low to the ground. The stems of the grass develop along the side, or outward rather than upwards (like grass), and look like the legs of a crab broadening outward from the center of the plant, consequently the name of this weed.