Sorry Mr. Crabgrass, but you are not invited to this backyard barbecue. We hate to break it to you, but you’re not exactly a treat to be around, and let’s face it—you’re tacky, and it’s cramping our style. What’s that? You’re not leaving? Well, I guess we’ll just have to remove you ourselves. 

How to Treat Crabgrass for a Flawless Summer Lawn 

We don’t have a security team on-call to help kick out uninvited crabgrass, so you’ll have to eliminate these annoying weeds with alternative methods. Here are six effective ways to prevent and treat crabgrass, so you can kick it to the curb and stop it from coming back. 

Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide

First and foremost, focusing on crabgrass prevention will save you so much effort in the long run. You won’t have to fight it if it never shows up in the first place! Apply pre-emergent herbicides, such as corn gluten, to your lawn in early spring, around early to mid-March; this will prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating, so they won’t sprout and take root in the lawn. 

Keep in mind, pre-emergent herbicides will also inhibit new grass seed from germinating. If you’re planning on reseeding your lawn, apply the fresh seed two weeks after your pre-emergent herbicide. 

Try a Triple Action Turf Builder

Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action combines the powers of a pre-emergent herbicide, a post-emergent herbicide, and a fertilizer. While it doesn’t kill crabgrass, it effectively prevents it while killing a wide range of other weeds like dandelions and clover. Plus, the fertilizer helps strengthen and nourish your lawn, so it has stronger defenses against invasive weeds. If your lawn is lush and thick, there’s less room for crabgrass to sneak in!

Use Post-Emergent Herbicides for Spot Treatments

Products like Bonide Weed Beater Ultra are easy to apply onto crabgrass without it spreading to your lawn grass and damaging it. Wait for a sunny day with no wind or rain—applying herbicide on a blustery day will cause it to spread all across the grass when you spray! Wait two weeks after application, and then you can reseed the bare patch in the lawn. Avoid letting kids or pets run around on the lawn for 24 hours following application. 

Hand Pull Single Plants Before They Go to Seed

If the problem isn’t too severe, you can hand pull crabgrass and toss it away. Always make sure you get rid of crabgrass before it goes to seed, or else all those seeds will lay dormant in the soil over the winter and spring into action as soon as the weather warms up. Pulling weeds is easier after a rainy day, but on dry days you can try using a hoe instead.

Don’t Mow Your Grass Too Short

Mowing your grass super short limits its ability to properly photosynthesize, resulting in weak, undernourished grass. You want your grass to be lush and healthy, so it’s harder for crabgrass to take over the space! We recommend cutting your grass no shorter than 2.5 inches for best results.  

If Crabgrass Is Poking Through Concrete, Pour Boiling Water on It 

Boiling water will hurt your lawn grass, but if crabgrass is poking through concrete or pavers, pouring boiling water is an effective way to kill crabgrass naturally! Just use the kettle so you can safely pour it into the affected area, and the leaves and roots will be dead in no time. 

To see more products available to treat crabgrass on Long Island, visit Dees’ Nursery and explore all the different herbicides in store now! We’ll be happy to explain the difference between the products and how to use them, so you can be sure you’re getting the right stuff for the job.