By Lakeside Sod Contributor
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Crab Grass control is in most lawn care programs. If you do not have crab grass maybe you should not treat for it?
There is a time and a place to treat for crab grass and other broadleaf weeds. The question is when to go after it, and what to treat it with? Bottom line check with your lawn professionals early in the year and make a plan.
It is the beginning of April and its decision-making time!!
Part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as it relates to Lawn Care and Crab Grass is to map areas where unsightly crabgrass occurs year after year. The best time to do this is August. Jot down some notes or add a reminder on your smart phone. Usually, year in and year out crab grass is a persistent problem in the same areas of your property. For example, along sidewalks, driveways, concrete pads, patios, and stonework.
There are several crabgrass control strategies: The first being maintaining a uniform and healthy stand of turf that is maintained at a mowing height of around 2.5-3”. In some situations, this is enough. In other instances, you need to prevent those Crabgrass seeds from germinating and taking over! This should be done with a pre-emergence in the springtime, where it is most vulnerable.
When pre-emergence crabgrass control is desired, Anderson’s 18-0-4 Fertilizer with Barricade, is a tried and true. Available at Lakeside Sod Supply, this product lives up to its name and provides a barrier of crabgrass weed control to the soil. Applied from April to Mid May this product will disrupt the germination of crabgrass and many other weed and broadleaf weed seeds that occur naturally in the soil. The Fertilizer portion gives just enough nutrients to your existing desirable grass to out compete most weeds. There is an element of this pre-emerge practice that will block successful lawn seeding for up to 90 days. Instead, if you plan on seeding, apply Andersons 21-22-4 Starter Fertilizer with Mesotrione Weed Preventer. This will help jump-start your existing grass, and seeds while providing a barrier to eradicate undesired weeds and grasses.
Call a Lakeside Sod representative to learn more 716-741-2877.
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