For those who haven’t lived in the northern part of the US, taking care of cool-season lawns can be quite a bit of a challenge. What you must realize is that cool-season grass, unlike the warm season ones, thrives in a cooler climate. They have better endurance and require more care during summer in terms of watering and maintenance. However, this does not imply that you can forget about lawn care during the cool season, not if you don’t want your lawn to be infested by crabgrass, weed, and so much more.
Typically, cool-season lawns include the likes of perennial ryegrass, bluegrass, Kentucky, fine fescue, tall fescue, and so on. You can divide them into two categories, shade-tolerant species that are planted under trees and those that can handle shade.
Irrespective of the type of cool season lawn you have, you must be wary of crabgrass and other forms of weed. Fertilizing is a must, and so is lawn care. Pre-emergents and herbicides can ensure that you don’t find your lawn care compromised when you least expect it.
But what exactly is crabgrass? How can you protect your lawn from broadleaf weeds and similar other threats? It’s time to learn more about lawn care, the role of pre-emergent in weed control, and what you can do to maintain your lawn in West Chester.
An Introduction To Crabgrass: What You Must Know
If you are new to cool-season lawn care, you might not have heard about crabgrass yet. It’s because the seeds of this invader germinate during the spring and summer months. The germination process does not occur until the temperature reaches at least 55 to 60 degrees.
Not only that, the ungerminated seeds remain latent for a long time. They can even wait for more than 20 years! If this wasn’t a problem enough, the crabgrass plant could produce as many as 150,000 seeds! Yes, you must take quite measures to control this weed if you don’t want matters to get out of hand.
This weed type prefers sandy and compact soil with poor condition of the grass. Crabgrass thrives in an environment where the sun’s rays hit deep into the ground. And it will also flourish if the yard has excess water. Phosphorous concentration is another factor that helps it spread. So if you feel your grass grows ideally during the spring, you must not forget about this invader too, who might be lurking undetected, ready to take over your entire lawn!
The Lifecycle Of Crabgrass: All Details Explained
How will you be able to ensure your lawn care and keep crabgrass at bay if you don’t understand its cycle fully? Keep in mind that this one’s a summer annual grassy weed. It germinates in spring, spreads in summer, and dies before winter but not before dropping countless more seeds. And the whole process continues until you catch onto the problem and use pre-emergents and other methods for weed control.
The challenge with crabgrass is that it lives fast and is not easy to get rid of. It spreads widely and has a big seed production. Indeed, it can spoil your bluegrass lawn in no time!
How To Control Crabgrass Timely For Lawn Care
By now, you must have realized that weed control is crucial if you don’t want your entire lawn to be spoiled. But what can you do? How can you control crabgrass if it takes so little for it to thrive? Well, this is where your timing matters!
You have to take action before the roots of the crabgrass are developed, or else things will spin out of control within a short span. You must be on the lookout for weeds and take action at first sight of the problem.
The first step is the identification of crabgrass. Note that it can adapt to many environments. This weed type is smooth and hairy. It typically has a light green color initially before it turns dull or dark green. It grows pretty low to the ground, and that too in clumps. The stems of crabgrass grow outward and look like the legs of a crab. And now, let’s find out what you must do to control it.
Use Pre-Emergent Timely
Controlling crabgrass is easier if you act on it early in the season. Use a pre-emergent during or after your second mowing. This will not only prevent its growth but spread too. You can also use a pre-emergent with a fertilizer. In this case, use a fertilizer with time-release nitrogen.
Overseed Your Lawn
Apart from fertilizing your lawn and using a pre-emergent, this is another method that can help you eliminate crabgrass. Overseeding your yard will leave you with a thick and lush lawn that has enriched soil. The thick lawn will choke out the weeds, thereby ending its life cycle naturally. Overseeding will also prevent the sprouting of weeds.
Keep in mind that you will have to do more than just seeding if you want a green and healthy lawn. Water it once a week and fertilize it on time. It’s advisable to mow your lawn higher and keep it well-aerated too.
Apply A Crabgrass Herbicide
If you feel that none of your efforts are bearing fruit and crabgrass continues to grow, you have to change your ways. Take measures that will get rid of the weed for good. For this, you can start pulling out the crabgrass from the roots or apply a crabgrass herbicide.
Note the areas where crabgrass is growing and spray herbicide on it. This should take care of the pesky creatures and prevent them from spreading their tentacles.
Pay Attention To Lawn Care In The Best Way Possible!
More often than not, crabgrass is a symptom of poor lawn care. If you apply pre-emergent on time and work to keep your lawn thick and well-maintained, there’s no reason that you would have to worry about weed control in the cool season.
Remember, you must prevent crabgrass from germinating. The climate of West Chester is such that things can spiral out of control pretty quickly if you haven’t paid attention to fertilizing and lawn maintenance. So make sure that you take timely measures. And in case you are unable to control crabgrass and similar weed variants, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. It might be easier than you think if you are from West Chester.