Crabgrass: Problems and Prevention

Crabgrass is one of the most common grass weeds. Many people do not recognize this plant and often refer to any grass weed as crabgrass. Hence, it is very necessary to distinguish it from other types of grass, in order to eradicate it successfully. Crabgrass belongs to warm temperate regions and is characterized by stems that lie on the ground, with the tips growing in an ascending manner. Their light green leaves are wide and the long inflorescence has spike-like branches. The name 'crabgrass' is derived from the fact that the stems of these plants spread like the legs of a crab.

There are around 300 species of crabgrass, the most prominent among them being large crabgrass and smooth crabgrass. These two species are commonly found as weeds in lawns and gardens. Crabgrass can be easily distinguished by its manner of growth, which interrupts the uniform growth rate of lawn grass. Normally, the seeds of this grass germinate during the end of spring or at the onset of summer. Each plant grows in a circular manner and can reach a maximum diameter of 12 inches. As they die in the fall, they may leave gaps in your lawn, where the seeds may germinate the next season. Crabgrass can sometimes cause undergrowth of other plants or grass growing in its vicinity.

Preventive Measures

It is very difficult to eradicate this plant from your lawn or garden, once they have gained entry. Hence, it is very important to prevent their emergence and eliminate them at the earliest, if they appear. The following are some measures that can be employed to prevent the emergence of crabgrass.

• Crabgrass needs sunlight for its growth, so make sure that your lawn is very healthy and thick enough to prevent any other grass from taking root.
• Another preventive measure is to keep the mowing heights between 2½ to 3 inches. A very low mowing height means more sunlight on the ground, which can cause the growth of crabgrass.
• Water or moisture is necessary for the emergence and growth of crabgrass, so avoid frequent watering or sprinkling.
• If all these measures fail, use herbicides. A pre-emergent herbicide should be used to prevent the grass seeds from germinating. The best time for the application of this herbicide is from late April to early May, because the seeds need warmth to germinate. Make sure that the time of applying herbicide does not coincide with the seeding period of the lawn grass.

These preventive measures are very important in fighting the emergence of crabgrass, because it is very difficult to control or eradicate it, once it has spread in your lawn.

Controlling Measures

Crabgrass can spread in your lawn or garden, if the conditions are right for their growth. It is important to eliminate them on their emergence itself. Here are some ways to get rid of crabgrass.

• One of the simplest ways is to pull out the plant the moment you notice it. As the root system of crabgrass is shallow, it will come out easily. To ensure complete removal of the roots, you have to water the area before the task. The water can loosen the soil and facilitates easy removal.
• Mulch the area from where the crabgrass has been removed to prevent regrowth of roots, if some are left behind.
• Postemergence herbicides or weed killers are usually used to get rid of crabgrass spread in a large area, but this may leave brown patches on the ground.

Never allow crabgrass to spread in your yard. Take immediate measures to get rid of them. It is always advisable to take preventive measures rather than fretting over the problems created by crabgrass.