Is your lawn always looking scruffy because of a crabgrass invasion? It’s a persistent, prolific weed that prefers Sydney’s warmer months, but you can get rid of it and stop it from coming back with a few simple strategies. Use these tips from a turf supply Sydney professional to get control of your crabgrass problem for good.
Identifying Crabgrass
When crabgrass gets its roots into your lawn, it’s hard to miss. It’s an annual weed that germinates from seeds in the spring and summer. Each plant can produce thousands of seeds, so it can spread quickly when the weather starts to warm up. Many people are allergic to crabgrass pollen which can cause allergic reactions such as asthma, dermatitis, and hay fever.
You can recognize crabgrass by its pale green, flat, wide blades. A mature plant will spread tough stems resembling crab legs over a wide area that can quickly overtake your lawn.
An extensive root system creates havoc with the soil structure that can lead to erosion as it outcompetes and kills off your normal grass. As the crabgrass dies off in winter, it often leaves unsightly bare patches of dirt in its wake.
Because of it’s extensive root system, crabgrass is a tough weed to remove manually, so prevention and control are always the better options.
Controlling and Preventing Crab Grass
There are several strategies available to homeowners whose lawns are plagued with crabgrass. Regular and frequent mowing to maintain a grass length of around 7cm will prevent sunlight from reaching the low-lying crabgrass shoots.
Don’t fertilize at the start of the warm months when crabgrass is getting ready to sprout. The nitrogen content will give the crabgrass sprouts a head start over your regular lawn.
Bare patches around your lawn should be covered with mulch to block the sunlight from reaching any young shoots.
Households that use professional gardening or lawn mowing services could ask that their equipment be rinsed off before starting work around your yard to prevent cross-contamination. Another option would be to personally supply the tools they need.
Pre-emergent herbicides containing Oxadiazon as the active ingredient will prevent crabgrass seeds from sprouting. These solutions must be applied well before crabgrass season to be effective, and don’t forget to water immediately afterward.
If you are looking for home remedies, a mixture of 4 litres of vinegar with a few dashes of detergent will gradually kill off the crab grass. Some people also report pouring boiling water over the plants can also help to get rid of them.
