Crab Grass Issues

[Thrill]

Help!

I've got what I consider a crabgrass infestation in my front lawn. I live in the Long Island, NY and am new to the area (originally from South Florida) so I am still a little unfamiliar with how plant life works up here.

When the snow finally melted this I could tell the previous owner had crabgrass issues as clumps of dead stalks were everywhere. However I began the Scott's program for lawns beginning with the fertlizer with pre-emergent crab grass stuff. Up until July it seemed to work fine, but over the last few weeks these things are spreading like weeds (joke). There are some areas of the lawn the are almost exclusively crabgrass. I spent the entire weekend pulling them out of the ground (with as much of the root as possible), but after two 30 gallon bags of this stuff out of the ground, it seems like I haven't put much of a dent in the project.

My question: Is there anything I can to do get rid of them this year and what can I do to better prepare for next year? In Florida, the best method to get rid of crabgrass and goosegrass was to yank them out, as I'm trying to do now. The roots on the crabgrass up here seem to be tougher than down south, and I have blisters in my fingers from battling them all weekend.

Crabgrass seems to be a problem up here and I've always taken great pride in my lawns (down in S. Fla it was St. Augustine grass) and I can't stand not having a near-perfect lawn.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Joseph Meehan]

How do you know it is crab grass.

I find that most people like to call any grass they don't want in their lawn crab grass. Most of it is not. Not your fault, and the companies like Scott don't do a lot to help.

I suggest you call your local county extension agent and see if you can bring a sample in for them to ID. You might also try a garden center, but I have also seem many of the people there don't know either.

[Shepherd]

[Chris Owens]

Pulling is the best way I've ever found for controlling crabgrass. But, ditching the weed-and-feed will help too. It's stressing your other grass, which gives the crabgrass a shot at taking hold. If you absolutely have to have an all-grass lawn, get a good blend that's appropriate for your local conditions, fertilize only in the fall with organic material, keep it between

2-3" in height, weed diligently, and let it go dormant in summer.

Chris Owens

Thrill wrote:

[Joseph Meehan]

I agree. The best defense is healthy grass and indiscriminate use of weed killer and fertilizer (bad fertilization may make the grass look green for a short while, it is bad for the grass) is really bad for grass. The other most common ways of damaging your grass is mowing too short and not often enough. Watering is also a problem in some cases.

Making your lawn a good place for grass and a bad place for weeds and pest is the best way to a good lawn, and that does not call for any regular application of weed or pest control.

[sparkie]

Crab Grass I believe is an annual. The grass dies in the winter but if it goes to seed, the seed will sprout next year. Pull it before it seeds.

I pulled a patch I had in my new house two years ago and it has not returned. My turf grass filled in and with good care is thick enough to drown out almost all weeds and crabgrass despite my neighbor's attempt grow a lawn exclusively of crabgrass and weeds.

sparkie Zone 6

[billrob]

Keep in mind crab grass seed will germinate after ten years of laying dormant. So, its not just about what you do now, but also what the pervious owner did. The best method is a yearly program of : pre-emergent, pulling or spraying (before seeds can be set), and good cultural practices.