How to control crabgrass

Crabgrass can destroy the greatest of lawns. Weed killers, and plastic coverings do little to kill off a weed such as this one due to the way it spreads. Controlling crabgrass can be done, but you need to be proactive and also practice regular lawn care to keep weeds under control.

Crabgrass appears mostly during the spring and summer, but during the rest of the year, thousands of dormant seeds could be in the soil of your lawn; ready to come to life come spring.

Cut high and regularly - Crabgrass needs a lot of sunlight to thrive, therefore minimizing the amount of light it gets is a good way to control it. Make sure you cut your lawn on a regular basis because not only will this keep your grass healthy, but regular mowing can help reduce the number of seeds near the soil surface.

Also when you cut your lawn, keep it at a high height. This blocks out a good portion of sunlight hitting the soil level, where crabgrass grows. Plus you'll keep your lawn looking full and thick, which acts as a cover up where crabgrass and dead spots may remain.

Fertilize - Depending on the kind of lawn you have and the conditions in your area, you should fertilize accordingly. If anything, you should fertilize your lawn at least once a year. Essentially fertilizing your lawn keeps it healthy and growing and it also smothers the soil, killing off patches of crabgrass.

Water heavily - If your lawn is not new and has not been seeded in a while, you can water more heavily to prevent seeds from getting firm rooting into the soil. Basically this can wash away crabgrass seeds that haven't grown fully into the weed. New lawns should be watered lightly until they have fully grown however.

Following some of these tips will not only help you maintain a great looking and healthy lawn, but will also help you keep crabgrass weeds under control. You may never fully eliminate crabgrass from your lawn but you can do a lot to keep it out of sight and from taking over the lawn you work so hard to keep looking great.

Always remember to check with your local lawn care specialists (usually found at home improvement stores and garden stores) if you are unsure of the proper care of your lawn. Whether you seed your lawn yourself, use sod, or have no idea what kind of grass your lawn is, lawn care specialists can usually help guide you in proper lawn care. Proper lawn care will lead to a better looking lawn and reduce the amount of weeds that pop up in your lawn.