Controlling Crabgrass

The weather this summer has been good for crabgrass, which is bad for home and commercial turfgrass lawns.  Crabgrass is a light green grass with one-quarter inch wide blades.  Crabgrass grows rapidly during hot weather and creates an unappealing appearance.  Summer and fall when crabgrass is obvious is NOT the time to control this common weed.  Preemergence herbicides should be applied at the time of forsythia bloom (early April to early May, depending on location) to stop crabgrass before it starts.  See the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Yard & Garden news release from July 28, 2016 for information on how to deal with crabgrass.  

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