Page 11 - Valley Home & Garden March 2019

HOWTOCONTROLCRABGRASSBEFOREITAPPEARS

omeowners who enjoy tending to their lawns being overcome by crabgrass as summer the ground temperature is below 60 F might
Hlawns know that grass is vulnerable to a host hits full swing. render the products ineffective. Gauging soil
of problems, many of which appear at a time of ■ Recognize that routine lawn maintenance temperature can be tricky, but Lowes advises
year when lawn enthusiasts want to showcase the may not be enough. Even lawns that receive monitoring shrubs and trees on the property.
fruits of their lawn-and-garden labors. sufficient TLC can fall victim to crabgrass. A Once shrubs begin to bloom and trees bud,
Crabgrass is a common problem that proactive, crabgrass-specific approach to lawn herbicide can be applied.
appears in summer. According to Lowes, maintenance is the most effective way to control ■ Wait when treating newly seeded lawns.
crabgrass plants produce thousands of seeds the problem before it pops up. Pre-emergent herbicides might kill new grass
between midsummer and early fall. While the ■ Apply a pre-emergent herbicide. Pre- seedlings, so homeowners with newly seeded
first frosts of late-fall or early winter kill the emergent herbicides kill crabgrass seedlings lawns should wait until they have mowed their
crabgrass plants, the seeds produced by the as they germinate. While these herbicides lawns three times before applying a herbicide.
plants remain dormant throughout winter and are highly effective, they must be applied at ■ Emphasize uniform application. If
then begin to grow as the ground temperature precisely the right time. The right time to a herbicide is not applied uniformly across
warms up with the spring and summer thaw. As apply them depends on weather patterns. For the lawn, crabgrass can establish itself and
a result, controlling germination, which is the example, Lowes notes that homeowners who ultimately spread to the rest of the lawn.
development of a plant from a seed or spore after live in regions that might have experienced ■ Do not thatch or aerate after applying
a period of dormancy, is the key to preventing warmer than usual winters will probably need a herbicide. Thatching or aerating a lawn after
crabgrass from becoming an unsightly blemish to apply the herbicides earlier than usual. While applying a herbicide might break the product’s
that can harm your lawn in summer. the manufacturer instructions should always be chemical barrier, thereby rendering it ineffective.
A proactive approach to crabgrass can save followed when applying herbicides, it’s essential Crabgrass can quickly spread on an
homeowners the headaches of dealing with that homeowners take weather patterns into untreated lawn. A proactive approach that
this unwanted guest taking over their grass. consideration as well. prevents its growth can keep lawns looking
The following tips, courtesy of Lowes, can help ■ Wait until the ground temperature great through summer.
homeowners reduce the likelihood of their rises above 60 F. Applying herbicides when (Metro Creative Connection)

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