How to Get Rid of Crabgrass and Maintain a Healthy Lawn

There are a lot of people like you who are having trouble with crabgrass taking over their lawn. It’s easy for this tough weed to spread quickly and choke out your grass, leaving ugly patches in your yard. 

The good news is that you can get rid of crabgrass if you know what to do. We will show you the best ways to get rid of crabgrass and make your yard healthy again. So, let’s dive into this guide.

What Is Crabgrass, and Why Is It Bad?

Crabgrass is an invasive weed that grows quickly and does best in warm, open places. When the dirt gets above 55°F (13°C) in the spring, it starts to grow. The weed spreads quickly and forms big, clumpy areas that can cover up your lawn and make it look sick and patchy.

Crabgrass is especially annoying because it takes nutrients, water, and sunshine away from your grass. When you don’t do anything about it, it can take over big parts of your yard, leaving you with an ugly, useless lawn.

Here is a step by step guide on how you can get rid of crabgrass.

Step 1: Use Pre-Emergent Herbicides To Stop Crabgrass

The best way to get rid of crabgrass is to stop it from growing in the first place. Herbicides that are applied before the grass grows are meant to stop crabgrass seeds from sprouting. The herbicides cover the earth and make a barrier that stops the seeds from sprouting.

Timing is very important when trying to stop crabgrass. Early in the spring, just before the soil temperature hits 55°F (13°C), use a pre-emergent herbicide. 

Most of the time, this is when the forsythia trees in your area bloom. Pay attention to the weather where you live and act quickly before the seeds sprout.

Step 2: Remove Existing Crabgrass with Post-Emergent Herbicides

You’ll need a post-emergent herbicide to get rid of crabgrass that has already grown in your yard. These pesticides are made to kill weeds that are already fully grown. 

Selective herbicides that kill crabgrass without hurting your grass are what you need to pick.

When applying post-emergent herbicides, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Most pesticides work best when they are used when it is warm outside, like in late spring or early summer, when crabgrass is growing quickly.

Check out will vinegar kill grass? for information on how to use herbicides and take care of your yard.

Step 3: Pull Or Dig Up Bits Of Crabgrass By Hand

For smaller patches of crabgrass, you might find it easier to remove them by hand. You can dig up the crabgrass and pull out its roots with your hands, a garden hoe, or a shovel. 

Make sure to get rid of all the roots so they don’t grow back. Once the weeds are gone, plant healthy grass to fill in the gaps left by the weeds.

This method can take a while, but it works very well if you catch crabgrass early, before it has spread too far.

Step 4: Make Your Lawn Healthier

The best way to keep crabgrass away is to keep your yard healthy. If your grass is thick and strong, weeds like crabgrass can’t grow because they are pushed out by the grass.

To keep your lawn healthy, here are some important yard care tips:

• Regularly Mow: To support deep root growth, keep your grass at the right height, which for most types of grass is around 3 inches. But remember never mew the wet grass because it is dangerous to you and your lawn.
• How to Water: To help your grass grow strong roots, water it deeply and not too often. Do not water your yard too much, as this can make weeds more likely to grow. You need to learn how long to water grass so it grows fast and healthy. Knowing this will help you take better care of your yard during different seasons.
• Fertilize: Use a balanced fertilizer to give your grass the minerals it needs to grow well.

Read Also: How long does grass seed take to grow

Step 5: Think About Using Natural Remedies

Some natural treatments can help you get rid of crabgrass if you want to be more eco-friendly. They might not work as well as chemical pesticides, but they can still help keep things under control.

Lemon juice: To kill crabgrass, spray a combination of lemon juice and water on it. But vinegar can also hurt plants nearby, so be careful when you use it.

A natural product called corn gluten meal can stop crabgrass seeds from sprouting. It is a pre-emergent pesticide. It also adds nitrogen to the soil, which helps grass grow in a healthy way.

Step 6: Keep Your Lawn Free of Crabgrass 

After eliminating crabgrass, it’s important to keep a healthy lawn to avoid future infestations. Keep doing the things listed above to keep your lawn healthy and free of weeds. Watch for new spots of crabgrass and get rid of them quickly before they spread.

Along those lines, make sure you don’t fertilize or water your plants too much, as this can help weeds grow. Always try to find a mix between keeping the grass healthy and keeping weeds away.

Conclusion

Crabgrass can be a persistent problem, but with the right method, it’s possible to reclaim your lawn and keep it looking its best.

You can have a lush, weed-free lawn every year if you use pre-emergent herbicides to stop crabgrass, pull out existing weeds, improve the health of your yard, and look into natural remedies.

Read our articles on grub damage vs. fungus damage on grass and how to plant grass seeds to learn more about lawn care and other problems that affect grass.

Get rid of crabgrass for good by taking charge of your yard!

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