Crabgrass - how to get rid of it?

I'm slowly loosing my yard to crabgrass. Anybody know of a good way to get rid of it? I live in central Texas if that helps.

 

My back yard has a section of it , I pull out by hand

 

I've been doing as much as my back allows. I have this stick thing for pulling up weeds but it leaves big holes

 

Get on the Scotts website, they have several products that can help, I know that you have to catch it early when it goes dormant

 

lol, I know what you mean, I usually wait on a good rain then yank em out, slowly I'm getting rid of it, I have extra load of yard fill mix to fill holes

 

Not much can kill it while leaving good grass behind. Pulling it out is mist effective. There are some crabgrass killers out there not they arent great.
Best bet is to prevent it by using a pre emergent in early spring, once you put it down, dont rake or break the lawns surface for a month. I usually put it down around Easter, probably a month earlier in Texas. Then make sure you mow your grass high, like 3-4 inches. Mowing it low encourages weed growth

 

Unfortunately you either have to spray it when it’s juvenile or pull it which will likely tear up your good grass. I’d cut my losses and try again next spring.

I use a fertilizer that is impregnated with a pre emergent purchased at a local ag chemical retailer. $65 bag last me a season. I also keep a pump sprayer with 2-4D and a pre emergent for spot spraying.

 

Here is what I’ve done. I live in Hot California. In the spring I put this down and it has worked really well. I’m pulling far less crabgrass this year thank goodness.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DU7Z62W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

You won't kill it after it's matured with most products at the home center. You'll need a "professional" product to kill it.

So, in short, identify if it really is crabgrass. There are quite a few grassy weeds that look like "crabgrass". Such as, quack grass, goose grass, etc. All of these varieties look similar, however, they won't all be controlled eith the same herbicide. So step one, identify what type of weed you have. (If you don't give a shit about that and want it dead, use glyphosate aka roundup with all your ppe. This kills almost all vegetation, as well as, a large companies reputation and profits for a few years, so be careful this stuff can be potent.)

Step two, select an appropriate herbicide. Google is your best friend. Search: selective herbicide to kill ________. A good website I've used is domyown.com, which is the link at the end of this post. Once you've selected a herbicide move into step three.

Step three, choose your application method. This can be a hose and sprayer, a hand can (hand held pump sprayer, Google it), or a granular form which would be broadcast spread ( or drop spreader...your choice). The most important thing is read the manufacturer's label. All of it. Follow the directions, they made the product and they will direct the best way to use it. Follow the guidelines for safety equipment. And lastly, for sprayed applications, they usually work better if you let said invasive pest grow. So dont now it for a week or so..you want more surface area on the plant to soak the herbicides so that bitch dies.

Step four, apply according to directions on package...this is crucial. Some work when it's 90+ degrees, some work at lower temps. After application, it may take a few weeks to take hold. You'll see the blades changing color and beginning to shrivel. But just keep and eye on it. Some times multiple applications are necessary to get it all.

Step four, apply a pre-emergent to keep the plant from germinating and growing more. This is one of the most important steps. Along with pre-emergent, feed your grass and get it to grow thick. This is the easiest way to ensure a weed free lawn.

Step five, grab a beverage of choice, light up the grill, and enjoy your hard work. (Also the most important)

If you have questions, let me know. Lawn care is easy. All it takes is some reading between the lines.


"Pro" crabgrass post emergent killer:
https://www.domyown.com/drive-xlr8-herbicide-crabgrass-killer-p-1520.html

 

Also, if you mulch your grass when you mow, you're spreading the seeds. Mulching is good to do, but not when you have weeds everywhere. Bag it up and get rid of the clippings out of your yard. Think quarantine.

Also, pulling can be effective, but again you run the chance of spreading the seeds

 

I have tried this for the past 3 years and followed directions as written on the package and I have not had positive results. Spent an hour yesterday pulling crabgrass by hand

 

Yep like others said, I put down some decent weed n feed early spring and it cuts down a lot of mine. Once it sprouts and grows you pretty much wait it out or pull it.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Gonna wait for a good rain and pull more out. I'll read up on those chemicals.

 

Problem with crabgrass is that herbicides don't stick to it. You need a surfactant.
Tenacity, surfactant, and some dye so you an see where you sprayed. Be careful with it in this heat as you can kill everything.

$51 Tenacity Turf Herbicide - 8 ounces (Packaging may vary)

https://www.amazon.com/Tenacity-Turf-Herbicide-8-ounces/dp/B005DUTNF0/ref=sr_1_16?crid=26MIMHN2U5KIS&keywords=sufficant&qid=1563239742&s=gateway&sprefix=sufficient%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-16

$14 Southern Ag Surfactant for Herbicides Non-Ionic, 16oz, 1 Pint

https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Ag-Surfactant-Herbicides-Non-Ionic/dp/B004XDHRCE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26MIMHN2U5KIS&keywords=sufficant&qid=1563239787&s=gateway&sprefix=sufficient%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1

$14 Liquid Harvest Lazer Blue - 8 Ounces - Concentrated Spray Pattern Indicator, Weed Dye, Herbicide Dye, Fertilizer Marking Dye, Turf Mark and Blue Herbicide Marker

https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Harvest-Concentrated-Pattern-Indicator/dp/B01G7M309M/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=26MIMHN2U5KIS&keywords=sufficant&pd_rd_i=B01G7M309M&pd_rd_r=494644db-5ddf-4614-96ca-43b7d2eb856e&pd_rd_w=FEahA&pd_rd_wg=D16Ig&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=QJ1AF390FE4ZC03HMJV3&qid=1563239787&s=gateway&sprefix=sufficient%2Caps%2C142

 

Good point. However, you will only need a surfactant if you use concentrated chems like tenacity, or drive xlr8. If you get one of the pre mixed chemicals from home depot or similar, they have surfactants made into them.

A cheap surfactant is drawn dish soap. Put a drop or two in you sprayer and fill with water slowly. All you're doing is decreasing the surface tension of the water so it doesn't bead up and roll off the plant

 

Rip it out by the roots!

 

Yup