When Should You Apply Crabgrass Preventer?

Crabgrass is technically a type of grass, but don’t let the name fool you—it tends to have an unattractive and mangled appearance that stands out in your lawn. Crabgrass grows tall and quickly, sprouting large patches above your current lawn. Learn how to apply crabgrass preventer to make the most of this herbicide application.

Tips to Apply Crabgrass Preventer

• Timing: Your window for applying crabgrass preventer is limited. The best time to apply it is 10 to 14 days before spring germination, which tends to be approximately when the weather reaches 55 degrees for five days in a row.
• Tools: You will need your preventer of choice and a lawn spreader or a garden seeder.
• Method: Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. In most cases, you will use your lawn spreader or garden seeder to uniformly apply the crabgrass preventer throughout your entire lawn.
• Other ways to prevent invasion. Crabgrass thrives in dry conditions, so watering well can help prevent an invasion. You can also aerate your soil and overseed to help your grass thrive, which can help prevent all sorts of weeds. It’s also important to mow the right way, leaving just enough shade to keep the soil moist. (We recommend never cutting more than 1/3 of the blade as a general rule for height.) It is recommended you check to make sure the mower blades are sharp, or it can cause undue stress to your grass, leaving your lawn less able to fend off weeds.
• Get professional help: Fortunately, crabgrass can be stopped with the right treatment and combination of solutions. Contact Green Lawn Fertilizing today to find out more about crabgrass control methods and our Green Lawn Program that designed to keep weeds, like crabgrass, from taking over your lawn so you can enjoy your greenest yard yet. Call Green Lawn Fertilizing for help in PA, NJ, and DE today at 855-469-0692.