How to Control and Prevent Crabgrass in Your Yard

Crabgrass gets its name because it grows out of a singular root and the blades look like a crab's legs. The problem with crabgrass is that it is pervasive and tenacious and getting rid of it takes careful patience - it may take weeks or months. Also, it is important to prevent crabgrass from spreading - it is a prolific weed-like grass that can spread like wildfire and germinate across your entire lawn. It can also suck the life out of other plants and grass, leaving your back or front yard looking less than healthy. Here is how to control and prevent crabgrass in your yard.

 

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First and foremost, you want to practice watering your lawn accordingly. Crabgrass grows near the surface of the soil - whereas the healthy grass grows low. So, you want to water deeply - meaning that you want to set a timer and let the water soak. You want to do this once a week. If you water every day and lightly, the crabgrass will have a much better chance of surviving and thriving, so through your watering practices, you want to prevent this from happening in the first place.

Also, you want to mow your lawn regularly. According to the type of grass you have, you want to mow at exactly the right height and you want to mow often. Because crabgrass grows at the surface, cutting down its blades can cut down its water reserves, which can end up causing the plant to shrivel up and die. This is what you want to have happen to all the crabgrass on your lawn. So, be sure to find out what type of grass you have - then you want to mow on a weekly basis.

Next, you want to be sure to fertilize regularly. Fertilizing your lawn will give your healthy grass more strength. The reason why crabgrass can be so tenacious is because it sucks the power out of the healthy grass. So, if you make your grass even healthier and plentiful, you will effectively make the crabgrass the weaker link. When it comes to using fertilizer, you want to make sure that you visit a nursery to find the best brand - with the most nutrients. When it comes to fighting off crabgrass, giving your grass the nutrients it needs to survive is incredibly important.

Lastly, you may want to hire a specialized landscaper to design your back or front yard. A professional landscape company, like A-Affordable Lawn and Tree, will be able to find and help grow some of the hardiest plants. This is especially important if you live in a region where crabgrass grows more prolifically. In some warmer and dryer climates, crabgrass can be a serious issue, so a landscaping company may plant lots of succulents and native plants to take away the nutrients from the crabgrass. In the end, crabgrass is not attractive and it can make your lawn look less than presentable, so you want to work on finding an efficient solution to control and prevent it.