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Are you tired of watching your hard-earned, thick and lush grass suffer at the hands of pesky crabgrass? You’re not alone – after months of nurturing your lawn, the last thing you want is for weeds to ruin all your hard work. But don’t worry – you don’t have to sacrifice your healthy grass to get rid of crabgrass.
In fact, there’s a solution that will kill the weeds without harming your precious lawn. In this guide, we’ll reveal how to get rid of crabgrass without killing grass, so you can enjoy a beautiful, weed-free lawn all year round.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, you’ll find valuable tips and tricks to help you take control of your lawn and keep it looking its best. So, are you ready to discover the secrets of successful lawn care?
Let’s get started!
How To Get Rid Of Crabgrass Without Killing Grass
When searching for a crabgrass killer that would not have any negative impact on the grass, think of a selective post-emergent crabgrass killer that has Quinclorac as its main ingredient.
They would efficiently tackle actively growing crabgrass and even overgrown ones and would not, in any way, damage your lawn grass.
Now that you know the item to help kill your crabgrasses for a good while protecting your lawn grass from going down with it, it would only be fitting that we also reveal to you the best form of its application so you can achieve the best results.
When To Get Rid Of Crabgrass
More like the best time to strike and attack these seemingly immortal weed grass.
Do you wonder why we tag them to be almost immortal?
Did you know that crabgrasses are also known as perennial weeds? They are rightly called that because of their hardy nature and ability to flourish in diverse conditions and thrive all year round, irrespective of seasons or environmental factors.
They present themselves like every regular grass in your space, thriving and having a good time being a thorn in the flesh of other healthy grasses. To get rid of this highly stubborn weed, you need to study and understand the fundamental biology and life cycle of the crabgrass weed.
There is also a need to know and wait for the perfect time and moment to strike. The perfect timing will see that you eradicate this pesky weed successfully for good.
Crabgrasses thrive best in summer and spring, around March – October.
During spring, when soil temperature should be about 55 – 60°F get your pre-emergent herbicide handy and apply before the weed begins to germinate, for it is around this soil temperature level that they tend to work the best.
The essence of doing this is to stop the seeds from even beginning their germination process on your lawn in the first place. Ensure you get a powerful herbicide for this exercise. Tenacity Herbicides, for instance, has got a lot of positive reviews from people who have used it at one time or another.
Now to the Summer season. This is where you get to use the post-emergent herbicide. Another cue is if it is yet to be summer, but you can spot sprouts on the crabgrasses.
Post-emergent herbicides are meant to tackle already existing weeds. As we always advise, use a powerful herbicide and spray directly onto the growth areas. A point to note is that you have to be mindful of the kind of grass you have to know the right kind of herbicide to use on them.
If you have a Centipede, Floratam, or St. Augustine grass, the Quinclorac may not be suitable for use on them; you should try some other ones like Celsius.
Quinclorac is safe for lawn grasses like Zoysia, Fescue, or Bermuda.
It can get a little confusing, but with some research on the product or a request for a recommendation from lawn grass experts, you should not have any problem identifying safe and effective herbicides for your lawn grass.
Best Method Of Killing Crabgrasses In A Lawn
When it comes to perennial weeds in general, the most natural way of eradicating them, which also doubles as practical, is to have them dug out. This method is preferred because, unlike spraying chemicals, it does not harm the surrounding healthy grasses.
A quick tip would be to get the weed dug out during early spring, as the shoots of the crabgrass weed are likely to be short by then. We can’t say the same when it’s summer, for you might meet a scary overgrown weed.
Digging out the crabgrasses may seem like too much work, but there is a way to simplify the process and make it easier.
We will be outlining the steps for you below:
1. Begin The Process Of Softening The Soil
To soften the surrounding soil where the crabgrass is, you have to water the area. Prolonged watering for up to thirty minutes will get the job done.
2. Uproot The Crabgrass Weeds
After watering the area and confirming that the soil has been softened, dig out the crabgrass. Now you do not have to worry if you do not have tools like a pitchfork or a claw weeder to complete this. You can dig them out with your hand.
It will be physically exerting and time-consuming, but it will do the job neatly. If you have a claw weeder or a pitchfork, even better for you.
3. Apply Fertilizer
Once you are done clearing the crabgrass area, apply rooting fertilizer or organic manure. Applying fertilizer or manure will be the nutrition needed to fortify the bare soil.
4. Have The Grass Regrown
The bare spot in the lawn can now be reseeded with good grass seed, and the grass has regrown.
5. Follow Up With Care Of The Grass
Now that you have good grass regrown prevent the mistakes of the past and follow up with care as closely as you can.
Final Note
Crabgrasses are stubborn, but there is more than one way to eliminate them. However, the problem is not really about getting rid of them; the problem is getting rid of them successfully.
What do we mean by this?
Getting rid of crabgrasses successfully involves eradicating them in a way that does not cause damage to the healthy grass at all.