If you take any pride in your lawn, then just reading that one word can call upon feelings of anger and despair. But you don’t have to be on the losing side of this war. A little prevention in early spring can go a long way in keeping your lawn crabgrass free all summer long!
Now is the time for most regions to start your attack against crabgrass prevention, even though there isn’t any crabgrass visible in the lawn at this point. Using Halts Crabgrass Preventer alone, or Scotts Turf Builder with Halts Crabgrass Preventer to feed at the same time, will add a layer of protection against the soon-to-be-germinating crabgrass seeds.
Crabgrass seeds deposited during the previous year will begin germinating when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees or more for three days at a time. But since crabgrass germinates at different rates, even if you’re a little late to the party you still have time to save yourself from a lawn full of that ugly weed.
Be sure to follow all directions on the bag, and it’s easiest to put down using a rotary or drop spreader. Both the Halts Crabgrass Preventer and spreader can be purchased at local hardware stores, or home and garden centers.
Even with these efforts, it’s difficult to completely prevent all crabgrass from germinating. For the few spots of weeds that do appear, it’s recommended that you remove them by hand before they get release their seed pods. Doing so will keep the seedling population from increasing for the following year. And after a few seasons of proper mowing, feeding, and general weed and pest prevention, you can bring even the worst crabgrass problems to a minimum.
