Perhaps you have looked at your lawn and noticed that some of the grass looks a bit different. Maybe plants have sprung up in the cracks of your walkway. There’s a good chance that what you’re noticing is a weed called crabgrass.
What Is Crabgrass?
There are over 300 pesky species of crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) found throughout the world. It is so named because it tends to sprawl out sideways from its base. Like many weeds, it is quite persistent since can spread itself in more than one way and may not be easy to control. If you are not diligent about early detection and treatment, it may produce seed heads. These will scatter thousands of seeds throughout your lawn that are able to germinate for several years. Some species also clone themselves by sending out side shoots called tillers.
Crabgrass Is Drought Tolerant
One reason that this weed is able to thrive in lawns is because it can handle summer conditions when it’s hot and dry. This ability to grow even if not much water is present explains how it can survive in strange places like spaces between paver bricks, concrete, rocks and other inhospitable places. Make sure your grass gets enough deep watering to allow it to be healthy and send down roots, making it harder for new crabgrass plants to grow.
How Is It Controlled?
A future post will go into depth about dealing with crabgrass, but in general, control is best achieved through the use of pre-emergent herbicides (which stop the seeds from sprouting), setting your mower blades higher, and keeping your lawn properly fertilized and watered. If the lawn is healthy, it is less likely for the crabgrass to creep in and spread since it cannot compete with your grass.
Have problems with crabgrass? Give us a call!
