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Posted: Sep/07/2005 1:51 AM PST
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=DarkOrange]Its been awhile since I've been here... but here goes. My lawn was cut way too short all summer and hence (I've read) we have a epidemic of crabgrass - more of that than lawn and some patches of clover. What is the best approach here at this time of year? I know to fertilize. I've started to remove the crabgrass by hand, raking, etc. but there is SO much of it and now have a lot of brown patches and holes. I'm re-seeding but the birds are eating more than I'm able to put down so it seems. Main problem is what to do with crab grass out of control[/COLOR].. [/FONT] HELP  Gardenaddict |
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Posted: Sep/07/2005 12:31 PM PST
Well, you seem to be headed in the right direction. Mowing HIGH is probably one of the best things you can do for your lawn. I mow mine only 1 click below the highest possible height on my mower. Its about 3.5 inches. The best thing to do for controlling crabgrass is handpulling it if possible. The more you pull, the more seed you are stopping from germinating next year. Then in the spring around the time that the forsythia bloom in your area, put down an application of pre-emergent crabgrass control like Dimension or something similar and again at the end of June/beginning of July. This will stop the weed seeds from germinating. Go ahead and put some seed down now, water and fertilize. Then fertilize again right about at the last mowing of the year while the grass is still green. his will help the turf make and store the carbohydrates it needs to get through the winter and green right up in the spring. The clover is a different story. Its a perrenial weed and can really only be effectively controlled with chemicals such as Ortho weed-b-gon. |
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Posted: Sep/07/2005 1:55 PM PST
I agree with what John stated. Overseed now, making sure that the seed doesn't dry completely out, and you can do a light covering of straw to deter the birds. There is also a biodegradeable seed blanket that you can buy at a home improvement center in your area. |
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Posted: Sep/07/2005 2:39 PM PST
Thanks guys! One more question here...does Round-Up work on grass weeds such as crabgrass or will it kill everything? If it does work can I re-seed immediately or wait? Gardenaddict |
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Posted: Sep/07/2005 3:45 PM PST
Round-up will kill everything it touches. Including your good grass. You can seed after a few days of using RU. There's really not much to gain by killing off the crab now. Either handpull it or just leave it. |
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Posted: Sep/07/2005 7:06 PM PST
JBB2388 If I leave the crabgrass until the frost kills it can I still overseed now.. has the crabgrass stopped growing in zone 6? thanks again, Angela (gardenaddict) |
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Posted: Sep/07/2005 7:28 PM PST
Yes, you can seed now. The crab hasn't stopped growing, but it has already set seed, so killing it now will do no good unless you remove the plants and the seed. |
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Posted: Sep/08/2005 12:13 AM PST
Thanks again John... I guess i have my work cut out for me this weekend! |
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Posted: Sep/08/2005 1:15 AM PST
Just be sure if you chose to use a spray weed killer that you do it on a day when there is not the slightist bit of wind . What ever you get the over spray on will get killed . A friend of mine killed off all her hydrangers because she thought she could kill the weeds under and around them with the Roundup. swindyi |
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Posted: Sep/10/2005 1:36 PM PST
I'd suggest that you use a pre-emergent crabgrass preventor next spring. It is not toxic and the most effective way to prevent crabgrass. Rather than "kill" it prevents the crabgrass seeds from germinating. It is usually sold in combination with lawn fertilizer. Keep in mind that crabgrass is an annual grass and comes up from seed every year. |
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