Crabgrass Control 101: Proven Tips for Northeast Ohio Lawns

Crabgrass getting you down? We understand. It’s not a favorite weed to spot in your Northeast Ohio lawn. 

You might be chatting with a neighbor in your front yard and notice this nasty weed taking over your lawn. Or you might be relaxing on your patio when you notice a few of these scraggly weeds emerging nearby. This weed can certainly stress you out. 

And you’re not alone. Crabgrass is one of the most unwanted weeds. It can definitely be one of those weeds that not only resembles other weeds and grasses, making it easy to miss or misdiagnose, and there are also some specific tricks for crabgrass control in Northeast Ohio. 

Let’s talk about what is crabgrass and how to get rid of crabgrass, so you can have a better chance of eliminating this weed from your yard and keeping it out. 

What is Crabgrass?

First thing’s first, let’s answer the question, “What is crabgrass?” Crabgrass is an opportunistic, annual, grassy weed that emerges in your lawn in spring and summer. And even though it has “grass” in its name, crabgrass is not a form of grass. 

It usually grows in thin or bare areas of your lawn, crowding out the good grass. 

As an annual weed, crabgrass completes its life cycle in one year, meaning that it grows from a seed in spring and then turns brown and dies by fall. But its seeds remain in the soil and can come back the following year. The more crabgrass you have, the more seeds will be ready to come back again the next spring. 

What Does Crabgrass Look Like?

It’s always a great idea to know the enemy you are fighting, and part of doing that is knowing what does crabgrass look like. 

This weed has flat, wide leaf blades. It’s rough, pointy and a lighter green than your normal grass. It also grows in clumps. 

Since crabgrass produces a lot of seeds each season – one plant alone can produce more than 75,000 seeds – your weed problem can continue to escalate year after year until you properly manage it. 

Where Does Crabgrass Grow?

Crabgrass is an annual lawn weed that enjoys sun and warm temperatures.

This weed likes to take advantage of thin or stressed out lawns where it bullies its way in. For example, if you mowed your lawn too short in some spots, crabgrass can find a way in. Crabgrass especially targets lawns that are drought-stressed, lack adequate nutrition, or suffer from poor drainage. 

How to Get Rid of Crabgrass

Crabgrass is a pervasive weed, and its main goal is a complete takeover of your lawn.

Probably the worst thing about this weed is its ability to spread, and once you have it, it can outcompete your good grass quickly and leave you with dead spots by the end of the year. 

So your goal is to learn how to get rid of crabgrass so you can eliminate it quickly if it does emerge. Try these tactics. 

Don’t Mow Too Short

Sometimes mowing your lawn can get tedious in the summer when it seems to be growing faster than ever. Your urge might be to mow it super short to try and save yourself some time. 

Unfortunately, this strategy doesn’t work. Mowing short actually encourages more growth. And it also stresses out your lawn and limits its protection against weeds like crabgrass. 

A taller, thicker lawn actually blocks the sun’s light and heat that might hit the crabgrass seeds and cause them to germinate. Mowing to a 3- to 4-inch height is preferable. 

There’s a reason crabgrass isn’t found in the shade. When you can keep your grass full and thick, you ensure adequate moisture, cooler soil temperatures, and minimal sun exposure to crabgrass seeds that are lurking in the soil. This helps with crabgrass control in Northeast Ohio. 

Water Right 

Grass soil that is too wet or too dry won’t be helpful in discouraging crabgrass germination and growth. 

Your Northeast Ohio lawn needs a minimum of 1½ inches of water weekly, depending on soil type, wind, and rainfall amounts. An irrigation system can be zoned and timed just right for your lawn to ensure you’re watering adequately. If you don’t have an irrigation system, sprinklers and timers can still do the trick. Just remember not to neglect watering entirely if your goal is to learn how to get rid of crabgrass.

Use Preventive Treatments

Prevention is the best strategy for crabgrass control in Northeast Ohio. You want to stop those seeds from germinating because once crabgrass emerges, it can keep spreading. 

Crabgrass seeds germinate when soil temperatures reach the mid-50 degrees Fahrenheit, which will happen sooner after a mild winter. 

To beat crabgrass germination, you want your lawn care pro to apply a preemergent herbicide treatment by the end of March with a possible second application with the next fertilization treatment to be within that prime window of crabgrass control. 

Spot Treatments in Summer

If you’re still seeing some crabgrass break through after preventive treatments, or the preventive treatments didn’t work as effectively on a thinner area of the lawn, the next step is to use a postemergent crabgrass control product. 

Spot treatments of postemergent herbicide on small crabgrass plants that break through can do the trick. 

Thicken Your Lawn

Crabgrass is a very destructive weed that will outcompete good grass when given the chance. How to get rid of crabgrass starts by not giving it the opportunity to sneak into your healthy lawn.

A thick, healthy lawn is possible with proper mowing and watering, but also through regular and proper fertilization.

Annual aeration and overseeding each fall can also increase lawn density, making sure crabgrass doesn’t have as much of a fighting chance to emerge.

Crabgrass seeds are everywhere, but they need light to germinate. So a thick lawn is your best defense for reducing crabgrass. 

Choose a Lawn Care Company You Can Trust For Crabgrass Control in Northeast Ohio

 Crabgrass doesn’t take vacations. With the right conditions, crabgrass seeds grasp any chance they can take to germinate. 

Planning ahead is the best way to combat crabgrass before it takes a firm hold on your lawn. You want to hire a Northeast Ohio lawn care company that knows how to battle crabgrass and can give you the right knowledge on proper lawn care, such as mowing, watering, and fertilization, to keep grass thick and healthy. If you have a thin lawn, a lawn care company that can offer the addition of aeration and overseeding can reduce compaction and amplify lawn density. 

On top of that, your lawn care technician must know the right timing for crabgrass prevention and crabgrass control in Northeast Ohio. Let Turf Pride help take this job off your plate and give you a lawn you’re proud of. 

Ready to learn why Turf Pride could be your choice for lawn care services in Lake County, Geauga County, and Cuyahoga County, Ohio? We’re excited to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn. 

Image Source: Crabgrass