Quackgrass vs. Crabgrass
Weeds share plenty of characteristics, so it can be hard to identify the one that’s causing trouble for your lawn. The one thing that doesn’t change: you don’t want them there! Two commonly confused weeds are quackgrass and crabgrass. Here’s what you need to know about each:
Quackgrass
What Is It?
Quackgrass is a perennial grass that is actually considered a weed. You can identify it from other weeds because it has long, tapered blades that are thicker than normal grass. The distinctive blade wraps around the stem of the plant, pinching where it attaches. It also has deep roots, making it more durable than other weeds and more challenging to pull out.
How Does It Spread?
Quackgrass is most commonly found in vacant fields, and during the month of June, they have the opportunity to grow without interruption by mowing, and they are able to form seeds. Birds or wind then transport the seeds to your lawn.
Quckgrass (left) can easilly be mistaken for crabgrass (right).
Crabgrass
What Is It?
Crabgrass is a pesky, grass-like weed that is invasive and resilient. The blades spike out in different directions. It’s able to thrive in all sorts of locations, so you might even find it inbetween cracks in your walkway.
How Does It Spread?
Crabgrass thrives in warm, dry conditions. Between midsummer and early fall, each individual crabgrass plant produces thousands of seeds. The first frost kills the plants, but the seeds remain dormant through the winter. When the ground temperature warms up, the seeds begin to grow.
How to Get Rid of Weed Like Quackgrass and Crabgrass
Weeds don’t like competition, so the best way to get rid of them is actually to make your lawn healthier. Here are some ways you can do that:
- Water well
- Reseed patchy spots
- Mow regularly while leaving grass high
- Aerate your soil
- Maintain a healthy pH level
Quackgrass and Crabgrass Are No Trouble for Green Lawn Fertilizing.
In fact, we have an entire program, the Green Lawn Program, dedicated to keeping them off your lawn. Call us today at 855-469-0692 to get your best lawn ever.