It’s barely spring but it’s time to start preparing your lawn for summer. The sweltering heat will be here before you know it, and so will everyone’s least favorite weed: crabgrass. Heat causes this common weed to grow and overtake your lawn quickly. Take control of your lawn by learning the difference between crabgrass and other common weeds. Your professional lawn care company in the Tri-Cities area, Promier Landscapes, is sharing some information to help you establish a plan on how to control crabgrass in your lawn this summer.
What is crabgrass?
Germinating quickly in the late spring, crabgrass is known as a summer annual and could become more noticeable by mid-season. Invading thin and bare areas of your lawn in the heat of summer, crabgrass could appear near the edges of your sidewalk, driveway, or plant beds. Your lawn care specialists in Kingsport can help you determine where in your lawn crabgrass is lurking and provide the appropriate treatment to keep it from taking over your landscape.
How to spot crabgrass in your lawn
Most new homeowners are unaware of what crabgrass looks like, so they are not sure what type of plant to look for in their lawn. One of the easiest characteristics to spot crabgrass is that its tiller will grow flat across the yard instead of upright like actual grass. The weed resembles the look of a crab with its legs extending from the center of the plant. Although it could be challenging to determine the differences between crabgrass and regular grass in your lawn, there are a few key differences to help.
- Blades from the center of the plant are a lighter shade of green compared to the surrounding area of your lawn.
- Leaves are typically broader and wider than most common thin-blade grasses such as Bermudagrass, ryegrass, or Kentucky bluegrass.
Goosegrass
Crabgrass and goosegrass share some similarities where it could be challenging to tell the difference. Goosegrass also grows in the summer and resembles the look of crabgrass. The most significant distinction of goosegrass is the flat stems and a white, silvery center. If you are unsure if you have crabgrass or goosegrass, contact your lawn professionals in Bristol, Promier Landscapes, for assistance in the identification and control of these common weeds.
Prevent invasive crabgrass with treatment
Treating your lawn in the spring with a pre-emergent herbicide should prevent germination and growth that will assist you in controlling the spread of crabgrass in your lawn. The treatment needs to be completed in the spring before the soil temperatures reach 55 to 60 degrees, as that is when crabgrass begins to germinate. If you have a thick, healthy lawn, it is the best defense in the growth of crabgrass. To help with a good fertilization plan for a thicker lawn or pre-treatment with herbicide, feel free to contact your lawn care professionals in Johnson City so you can experience the best results of crabgrass prevention.
Crabgrass control in Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City
Spotting crabgrass can be challenging, but controlling it does not have to be with the help of a good lawn care company. Your leading Tri-Cities expert lawn care professionals, Promier Landscapes, can help you spot and control crabgrass this summer while providing a lush green lawn for your enjoyment. Feel free to contact Promier Landscapes by calling (423) 872-2988 or schedule a consultation online, and one of our certified lawn care specialists would be happy to assist you.