Yard Doctor

Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

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Posted in Weeds

What does it look like?

The big brother of smooth crabgrass, this weed is just as unappealing, and perhaps a bit more difficult to deal with. It is a warm-season, annual grass weed, light green in color with a prostrate growth pattern.

When, where, and how does it grow?

Large crabgrass is found throughout the country, growing in the spring when soil temperatures reach 55°-58°F for 4-5 consecutive days. It is very hardy, returning each year from the prolific seedbed it leaves in the soil.

How can we get rid of it?

Like smooth crabgrass, a dense lawn is the enemy of large crabgrass. A dense lawn keeps out the light this weed needs to germinate in the first place, so make sure you're taking good care of your lawn! The best way to control crabgrass is to apply herbicide in the spring, before soil temperatures become ideal for growth. If crabgrass has already started growing, a different variety of herbicide designed for mature plants is needed. Eliminating mature plants in the late summer is very difficult, but they will die with the first frost.

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