It may be hard for many of us to believe but spring will soon be here. It will be time to get those lawn sprinkler systems out of winter hibernation and start watering our lawns. It will mean getting our mowers ready for warm days and green grass.
However, there can be an unwelcome visitor to your lawn once spring rolls around.
Crabgrass is very unsightly and can fill lawn owners with dread. Crabgrass reproduces by seed and one mature clump of crabgrass can reproduce thousands of seeds. The germination rate of those seeds tends to be high which means one clump of crabgrass can soon become hundreds of clumps of crabgrass.
An effective way to control crabgrass is by applying a pre-emergent herbicide. You can find this in both synthetic and organic varieties. The timing of the application is crucial to its success. Generally the herbicide should be applied twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
There are things to know about before applying a pre-emergent herbicide. Many people will sow their grass seeds in the early part of spring. This should be done weeks apart from the herbicide application. A pre-emergent herbicide will prevent crabgrass seed from germinating but will also prevent your healthy grass from germinating. This is why experts recommend waiting six weeks after applying a pre-emergent herbicide before sowing your grass seed. Post-emergent herbicides can be used at any time during the year and they work by disrupting cellular processes within the plant itself. This means they destroy the existing crabgrass but do not prevent new crabgrass.
Controlling crabgrass and other weeds are just part of keeping your lawn healthy. The knowledge of how to maintain your lawn will help it stay healthy and stay green for much of the year.
