Crabgrass is a common and pervasive weed that plagues lawns all over the country. Crabgrass is an actual type of grass that does not mix in well with typical types of lawn. Characterized by its pointy and rough grass blades, crabgrass spreads aggressively and grows in unsightly clumps throughout your yard.
Crabgrass can also germinate at an incredible rate sending out thousands of new plants each season. Getting rid of crabgrass can be a challenge, but it is worth it in the long run if you do a little research and planning. Here are a few tips on the best way to kill crabgrass and a few herbicide reviews to help you start your search.
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What Does Crabgrass Look Like?
If you aren’t familiar with this troublesome and invasive weed, crabgrass can often be confused with other weeds in your yard. It can sometimes have several different looks due to its ability to change along with different growing circumstances, so identifying it can be a problem. Typically, it has a spikey and rough blade that appears in clumps around your yard and is also sometimes called devil grass or quack grass.
So, what exactly is crabgrass? Here is an informational video to tell you more about crabgrass:
How to Get Rid of Crabgrass without Chemical Weed Killers
If you are wondering how to get rid of crabgrass in the summer, you have a few options. You can always use an herbicide application that will get rid of those weeds in a couple of weeks, but you run the risk of damaging your yard if you aren’t careful. So, what kills crabgrass without killing grass? Here are a few ideas of how to remove crabgrass naturally:
Stop Crabgrass from Producing Seeds
If you can pull out as many plants as possible early in the year, you can get them out before they are able to set seed. Remember that mowing allows you more time to take out plants and, if you have large patches, an organic herbicide that uses citric acid and clove oil can help get rid of them.
Make Sure Not to Redistribute Seeds
Immediately bag any weeds you pull out and throw them away. If you want to compost them, leave them in a tied up bag in a sunny place between 4 to 6 weeks to allow the seeds to die in the heat. At this point, you can safely compost them.
Stop Germination
A healthy lawn that is thick and green will provide dense shade which will stop seeds from germinating. To help create a healthy lawn, make sure your mower is set at the top of the height range that is recommended for your lawn making it hard for crabgrass to outcompete your lawn for growth. Also water deeply and infrequently so that the soil’s surface can dry out and effectively kill any shallow-rooted crabgrass.
If you plan to plant lawn grass, do so in the fall so that frost will kill any crabgrass seedlings. And, if you have a thin lawn, spreading corn gluten in the springtime or before your rainy season will help to stop seed germination. Plus, as the corn gluten breaks down it will leave nitrogen that can then feed your established lawn.
Solarize Soil
Another suggestion is mowing your lawn as low as possible during one of the warmer and sunnier days of the year. Make sure to generously water your lawn and then cover it with a clear plastic sheet while sealing all the edges and making sure the plastic is not punctured.
You will want to leave it this way for four to six weeks allowing the plastic to heat up the ground killing any seeds underneath. Once you remove the plastic, you can reseed the area with the grass you prefer. Interested in learning more about crabgrass removal? Here’s a video that will tell you everything you need to know about getting rid of crabgrass.
Killing Crabgrass with Baking Soda
Using common household items like baking soda is also an effective way to kill crabgrass. By just simply sprinkling the baking soda onto the crabgrass, you should have dead weeds in just a few days that you can then pull up and replace with grass seed. Interested in learning more about natural ways to get rid of crabgrass? Here’s a video on using baking soda in your yard:
You can also use vinegar. Killing crabgrass with vinegar should be done sparingly so it doesn’t also kill your lawn. You can pour vinegar directly onto the weeds and then pull them up and reseed when the crabgrass dies a few days later. These natural methods are a cheap and natural alternative to herbicides.
Best Products to Kill Crabgrass Reviews 2018
Killing crabgrass without damaging your lawn can be a challenge, especially when you are using chemicals. Bayer Advanced Crabgrass Killer helps you control grassy weeds including crabgrass. Bayer Advanced will kill more than 200 hundred types of broadleaf weeds including clover and dandelions. As long as it is applied as directed, this product will not kill your lawn.
Rainproof in just one hour, Bayer Advanced should not be used on St. Augustinegrass, Carpetgrass, Bahiagrass, or Centipedegrass. Make sure to water your lawn a day or two before applying this product and wait to mow a day or two after spraying for best results.
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Source: ScottsHaltsForCrabgrass
If you want to stop weeks all year long and also have a gorgeous lawn, check out Scotts Crabgrass Weed Killer for results with just one application. Applied in early spring, Scotts Crabgrass Weed Killer will keep problem weeds like crabgrass from creeping into your lawn. Once you have applied the weed killer, weather won’t affect its performance even during snow, rain, and freezing temperatures.
Scotts Crabgrass Weed Killer stops crabgrass germination in early spring before they can start to spread and a fall application will stop the germination of chickweed and poa annua. With regular feedings, your lawn will receive the necessary nutrients it needs to be lush, green, and weed free.
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If you are looking for an effective post emergent crabgrass killer, MSMA Target 6 Plus Herbicide was created to control nutsedge, dallisgrass, crabgrass, chickweed, and pigweed. Made for turf and home lawns, MSMA Target 6 is on the best selective herbicides on the market but can kill your lawn if not used as directed. Make sure to read all instructions before applying MSMA.
MSMA Target 6 is made for use on residential lawns, sod farms, golf courses, and highway rights of way to control weeds. For best results, apply MSMA between 80 and 90-degree temperatures in the spring. You will see results immediately with the discoloration of leaves on the weeds, but it can take up to two weeks for total control to be realized.
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Source: ScottsTurfForCrabgrass
This spring, make sure your lawn has a great start with a good spring feeding. Scotts Turf Builder Crabgrass Preventer will help to keep your lawn safe from crabgrass all year long. When applied in early spring, Scotts Turf Builder will prevent broadleaf and grass weeds from growing while also feeding your lawn so it becomes lush and green.
Scotts Turf Builder will stop crabgrass, poa annua, and chickweed from germinating. Make sure to apply to your lawn by the fourth mowing to protect your lawn all year long. With regular feedings, your lawn will get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and weed free.
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Source: SpectracideForCrabgrass
If you are interested in ending weeds in your yard, try the Spectracide Crabgrass Killer to kill over two hundred types of weeds. This product is fast acting weed killer that gives you visible results in only eight hours. With a concentrated formula, Spectracide Weed Stop will selectively control emerged grass and broadleaf weeds in existing lawns.
After applying Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns, you will see weeds start to curl up and die. This product can safely be applied to buffalograss, zoysiagrass, Bermudagrass, and Kentucky bluegrass but not on St. Augustinegrass, bentgrass, centipedegrass, or carpetgrass.
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Conclusion
The winner of the Best Way to Kill Crabgrass is the Bayer Advanced Crabgrass Killer. Instead of worrying about using chemicals that can damage your yard, using Bayer Advanced Crabgrass Killer will allow you to control crabgrass and other grassy weeds and not kill your lawn. Make sure to use the product as directed and you will be able to kill over 200 types of weeds including clover and dandelions.
Effective after just a few days, Bayer Advanced is rainproof in only one hour and works best after your lawn has been watered and if you wait a day or two to mow. One of the best products on the market, Bayer Advanced is an affordable solution to your crabgrass problem. The definite winner of the best crabgrass killer is Bayer Advanced Crabgrass Killer hands down.