Crabgrass Control

This week at the Burlington County Community Agricultural Center we noticed the seed heads  of  crabgrass and wanted to remind everyone that late summer and early fall is the best time for establishing a healthy lawn and a weed control program.  The establishment of a healthy lawn is the best way to control crabgrass and other annual weeds.

Some tips for creating a healthy lawn are:

• Test your soil.  Soil Fertility testing should be performed every 2 to 3 years. Apply phosphorus, potassium, or lime based on recommendations of the soil test report.  
• Plant high quality seed of recommended cultivars. 
• Seed in late summer for new lawns. Crabgrass and other annual grasses that germinate in late summer will be killed by frosts in October or November.
• Mow your lawn to a height of 2 to 3 inches. The taller grass shades the soil and keeps soil cool. Crabgrass seeds do not germinate under cool conditions. Adjust your cutting height as appropriate for the turfgrass species in your lawn. 
• Leaving clippings recycles nutrients, sustains soilfertility, and provides for a healthy, vigorous turf that is more competitive against weeds.
• Water heavily once a week and avoid frequent light irrigation.
• Avoid summer fertilization. Crabgrass benefits more from fertilizer application under high temperatures than Kentucky bluegrass and other cool season grasses. 

For additional information on crabgrass and weed control please click on the link below:

Weed Control in Home Lawns