As the days get warmer and sunnier, dormant plants reemerge, bringing new life to our yard. Unfortunately, some pesky invasive species like crabgrass can make a comeback along with our favorite blooms. Crabgrass is one of the worst nuisances to lawn devotees everywhere who take pride in achieving golf-course-worthy expanses of grass. But if you learn how to get rid of crabgrass now, you can stop it before it takes over your yard.
Once lawn care season kicks into gear you'll take on more landscaping duties overall. That actually helps prevent weeds like crabgrass from growing. Mowing the grass, fertilizing, weeding, aerating, and watering are all essential tasks that can help reduce the spread of greedy, invasive plants like crabgrass. Contrary to popular belief, mowing doesn't necessarily spread it; in fact, clipping your grass slightly taller can help your grass crowd it out. Because crabgrass loves to soak up the sun, keeping your lawn lush and tall can help deter it from spreading.
Along with your other spring gardening projects, make sure to apply pre-emergent. Taking steps to get rid of crabgrass before it's established is the only surefire way to stop it from overtaking your lawn in the summer. It will also kill the crabgrass permanently without killing your grass. As with most garden upkeep, prevention is the best tactic.
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Below, we break down everything you need to know to get rid of crabgrass, including what it is and how to kill it.
What Is Crabgrass?
Crabgrass is an annual broadleaf weed that spreads rapidly if not controlled. It germinates in spring and continues to grow throughout the summer. It loves dry heat and poor soil—if you've neglected your yard, that could be why it's full of crabgrass. It's very difficult to destroy because the seeds remain in the soil for several years.
You'll recognize crabgrass for its namesake long-reaching, spindly stems. They appear to crawl out of the ground and across the grass, much like a crab walking across the sand. It stems from a single root and has a dark green appearance. You can distinguish it from grass because crabgrass grows out and appears clumpy whereas healthy grass blades grow upright.
As for whether crabgrass is bad, we have to say yes, it is. Because crabgrass is so aggressive and invasive, it'll have no problem choking out your grass and other native plants. As with all landscaping, diversity is best to promote the health of your lawn and support local pollinators and wildlife. Allowing crabgrass to run rampant negatively impacts the health of your lawn and surrounding plants.
The Best Ways To Remove Crabgrass
While preventive measures are the best way to stop crabgrass from growing, this weed can be defeated with post-emergents and weeding. Try some of these treatment options to get rid of crabgrass:
- Apply herbicide. As soon as you spot crabgrass, spray it with an herbicide. There are tons of options including chemical and natural solutions. Post-emergents attack crabgrass that has already sprouted. If you have a widespread crabgrass problem, using a pre-emergent is the best course of action. You may need to treat your yard multiple times if the weeds are particularly persistent and well-established. Natural options are more easily applied to isolated sprouts.
- Pull it out by hand. You can weed by hand if you don’t have an out-of-control, widespread crabgrass problem. The weed should be fairly easy to remove when it's young. Just be sure to pull it up with the roots intact.
- Burn it (very carefully). Controlled burning also works, but this method comes with its own risks such as scorching surrounding grass in an already struggling yard. This is also a more hazardous method in dry summer weather, but it's very effective if done safely.
How To Prevent Crabgrass From Spreading
This self-seeding weed sprouts in spring and, because it likes dry air and hot climates, continues to grow and spread through the summer. It will die in the winter but often reemerges next spring since its seeds can remain viable under the soil for years.
You can prevent it from spreading, though. The key is acting early. Using a pre-emergent in the early spring is the best way to get ahead of crabgrass growth. Treating the weed before it germinates will keep it from taking over your lawn. As soon as temperatures rise in the spring, crabgrass sprouts and seeds, and will continue to multiply throughout the summer. It thrives in heat, so don't wait until it's too late to spray weed killer.
Lawn health is just as important as early prevention. Crabgrass will quickly take over a sparse yard. Overseeding grass in bare spots will encourage new growth to choke out crabgrass. Watering your lawn once a week, aerating, fertilizing, and keeping grass two to three inches taller will help you get the thick, lush, crabgrass-free lawn of your dreams.
Your best weapon against crabgrass is vigilance. Dig up the weed from its roots whenever you see it, and apply a pre-emergence every spring. With diligent care, you can take back your lawn.
