Crabgrass is a summer annual weed that appears when soil temperatures reach a consistent 60 degrees F. This weed needs warm soil and sunlight in order to germinate. This weed is lime green in color and stands out in lawns of Kentucky bluegrass. Leaf blades of this plant are wider than your normal bluegrass or fescue leaf blade. The leaf blades of this plant are coarse bladed and contain hairs only in the collar. The hairs of this plant form a 90 degree angle to the plant surface. The blades of this grass plant are 8 inches long and 1/4 inch wide when they are fully mature. Plant stems will branch at nodes, but no rooting will occur at the nodes. A single plant can produce over 500 tillers. One plant can produce over one hundred thousand seeds at a time. Crabgrass is a grassy weed that reproduces by seed. This plant will die off in the fall when after the first frost hits. Seeds may remain in the soil for many years following their creation.
Mature Crabgrass plant.
Young Crabgrass plant.
Lawn of Crabgrass
Crabgrass Crown
Crabgrass Seed
Crabgrass
Digitaria Sanguinalis
Treatment
Treatment for crabgrass should be made through the use of pre-emergent herbicides. Preemergent products should be applied when soil temperatures start to consistantly stay at 60 degrees F. If crabgrass is already present, use a selective post emergent grassy herbicide.
Similar grassy weeds.
- Goosegrass
- Quackgrass