Putting Crabgrass In Its Place

In Montgomery and Chester Counties, crabgrass is a common annual grass that emerges each spring.  It sometimes confused with quack grass, is an undesirable, troublesome weed grass with a coarse texture and unsightly color. It can turn homeowners’ thick, lush, green lawn into thin, weak, patchy one if left untreated.
Fast-moving crabgrass infests lawns across the country and since there are many different weed grasses, it is critical that the undesirable grass be correctly identified. For example, if the coarse, ugly grass infesting your lawn is green as soon as the snow melts in early spring, the weed grass is not crabgrass.  




The following are some helpful facts homeowners should know about crabgrass, the conditions which cause it, and what they can do to help stem the tide if they have it in their lawn. It should be noted that control measures for annual and perennial weed grasses differ, and controlling crabgrass can take several seasons of work so have patience.

• Crabgrass is very difficult to identify early in spring since only plant skeletons are present at this time.
• Crabgrass is best identified in summer or fall for control in fall or the following spring.
• Crabgrass cannot be controlled with broadleaf weed control products.
• Crabgrass favors sandy, sunny locations in a weakened condition. Areas damaged by insects or along sidewalks and driveways are prime targets for crabgrass attack.

A strong, healthy, properly fertilized, mowed and watered lawn provides the strongest defense against crabgrass. Thick, lush, insect and weed-free lawns allow few open sites for crabgrass to establish.

Crabgrass has just started to germinate throughout Montgomery County

Ongoing proper maintenance is also an important step to help rid your lawn of crabgrass. One of the easiest maintenance steps is to remember not to mow your lawn to low. Taller grass will shade the soil and make it less hospitable for many weed seeds, like crabgrass, to develop.Typically, from Phoenixville to Huntingdon Valley, we recommend a 3" cut.

Ongoing proper maintenance is also an important step to help rid your lawn of crabgrass. One of the easiest maintenance steps is to remember not to mow your lawn to low. Taller grass will shade the soil and make it less hospitable for many weed seeds, like crabgrass, to develop. Most grasses do well at a mowing height of 2 inches to 3 inches, and some varieties even higher. 

The fight against crabgrass requires patience and a commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy lawn. It will take some hard work but a thick, dark green, crabgrass-free lawn is well worth the patience and special care.