If you do spot crabgrass emerging, remove it right away by hand-pulling or using a weeder tool. Remove no more than one-third of the grass blade at one time when mowing. Sure, plastic will assist in killing the main plant, but it won't do anything for seeds that disbursed. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. That’s why you might need to apply a crabgrass preventer or pre-emergent. I prefer to get rid of it the moment I see it. Be cautious. If you live in a dry climate, choose drought tolerant turf to help you water less. Don't mow your lawn any lower than three inches. Try smothering the crabgrass that grows between plants. ", Step 6: It's a fairly common weed and it looks unsightly if it takes hold over much of a lawn. If you just have some random crabgrass weeds that pop up here or there then consider manual removal. Locate the crabgrass in your yard, and use a hoe to dig it up. One poa annua weed clump can produce hundreds of seeds in a season. How to Treat Poa Annua Weeds It also suggested ways that were inexpensive and easy to perform. What should I do? ", Step 11: It will remove the weed without killing lawn grass. Once you have gone through the backbreaking effort to remove crabgrass by hand, you can use a pre-emergence weed inhibitor product. 2. All lawn weed herbicides are not made the same. Use a garden weeder tool made to remove the roots of crabgrass. How to Prevent Crabgrass in Your Lawn. Uproot the dead crabgrass from the lawn. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Deeply Water Your Lawn We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Since crabgrass is easier to treat the sooner it invades your lawn, knowing what crabgrass looks like can help you spot it, and remove it, sooner. Other safe crabgrasss control methods include using natural killers such as baking soda and vinegar, and growing a thick lawn to choke out the weed. The granular herbicide works by creating a chemical barrier at the surface of the soil. It answered all my questions. Your first line of defense against crabgrass is a healthy lawn. It grows low to the ground with stems that radiate out from the center of the grass clump, resembling crab legs. Then, apply it again in October. 3 Use power rake to cut grooves into soil. Get under the central whorl of the crabgrass and yank out most of the roots. Avoid using chemicals where possible. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. % of people told us that this article helped them. In April and July, use pre-emergent with fertilizer. I used crabgrass killer last fall, now all my crabgrass is brown and the grass is green. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You'll need to do this before the seeds appear. Set your mower at the top of the recommended height range for your type of lawn. Use a tool to dig out the crabgrass. Yank it out or kick it free with your foot. Crabgrass is most easily controlled with the use of Pre-Emergent Crabgrass Herbicide. If crabgrass is still kicking your butt — you still have options. Soak the Soil Water the problem area with a sprinkler or garden hose, then wait about 30 minutes to allow the water to soak in. A garden kneeler will help. How to Kill Crabgrass Removing the Weed Manually. How can I get rid of large amounts of crabgrass without killing the good grass? Wet the patch of crabgrass in your lawn; Pour a fair amount of baking soda on the weed, covering the surrounding and the leaves. This method is only effective between plants on garden beds; it could kill a lawn if you attempt it on a lawn space. Crabgrass is an annual weed that will grow in the thin and bare spots in your lawn. Plant grass seeds in bare spots and water regularly with a garden hose or sprinkler for deep watering. Cutting your lawn too close produces patches where crabgrass and other weeds can germinate. Remove the weed by chopping off any loose vines that are not rooted in the ground, to help expose the areas where you need to pull and dig. This article has been viewed 85,079 times. Last Updated: August 15, 2019 This will contain any crabgrass seeds that may still sprout and spread. Pick a high priority area and establish a zero tolerance zone there, removing every crabgrass plant in the zone. Crabgrass plants will be killed by frost in the fall, leaving behind bare spots. While it's unlikely you'll ever get rid of it completely, if you maintain a healthy lawn and attack it patiently, you will get the upper hand over most of it. Pull the clumps out, roots and all. We’ll show you how to identify crabgrass and make sure that you remove it properly to ensure that your lawn is free of this pesky weed for years to come. Cut the lawn grass at the highest recommended settings. The water needs to soak the soil six to eight inches deep. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Seeds also can lay dormant for several years before sprouting again, making this weed difficult to control. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide during early spring will kill off any seeds that are dormant and prevent seed germination. The trick here is to manually remove crabgrass before it … Remove Stubborn Crabgrass. Quicker-growing crabgrass will have a harder time outcompeting the rest of … In fescue and other cool-season lawn grasses that stay green all year-round, poa annua can leave bare spots in your lawn when it dies off in summer heat. Take Care of Your Lawn Crabgrass Herbicide. How to Remove Crabgrass Without Chemicals. If crabgrass persists, dig it up. Pull the clumps out, roots and all. Pre-emergent herbicides are effective weed control for most weed seeds. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. ", Step 9: Alternatively, corn meal gluten is a natural pre- emergent you can use on your lawn. 1. ". References Be careful not to spill any seeds on the lawn during the removal. Typically, these tools feature a claw or plunger you can drive deep into the ground, under the roots, to remove the plant. Taller grass blades help shade the soil. Wet the soil for about 30 minutes; then dig around the clump of crabgrass and pull. How to Get Rid of Crabgrass Without Chemicals Crabgrass dies on its own each year in fall. While it is most commonly found in lawns, crabgrass can also invade a vegetable garden. How to Remove Crabgrass from Your Lawn This guide will teach you how to get rid of crabgrass and prevent it from returning to your lawn. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. In order for a pre-emergent to be effective, timing is everything. Place the clumps in a trash bag and seal tight. The only way to prevent crabgrass from returning is to make sure every clump is removed and prevent crabgrass germination the following spring. Mowing too aggressively can damage the turf and encourage weeds to take hold. Its unsightly appearance is not the only reason to remove it – it’s bad for your lawn’s health. There is no specific chemical for crabgrass. This is a good time to inspect your lawn for bare spots that need to be addressed. If you see isolated patches, removing the crabgrass naturally or with a home-based remedy like corn gluten or baking soda could work. Maintaining a healthy lawn is your best bet to keep crabgrass at bay. All Rights Reserved. How to Remove Crabgrass. After four to six weeks, the crabgrass will be dead and easy to remove. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Repair Lawn Damage Solution: treat it like crabgrass, although it’s a cold-weather weed. Crabgrass is an unattractive, clumpy weed that will quickly take over your lawn. For cool-season grasses needing over-seeding in the fall, do not apply pre-emergent at that time. Grab them at the base of the stem and pull upwards, taking care to remove the side shoots as well as the main body of the plant. Repairing the bare spots will help keep new weeds out. Hand pick the crabgrass as it grows. Crabgrass thrives in hot, dry conditions. Use a Pre-Emergent Use of Herbicides. 2 Scrape the soil of all vegetation using a straight-edge shovel. The best way to get rid of crabgrass is to remove the weedy clumps as you see them. Some will kill your regular grass and other common weeds. Crabgrass is a common weed in many lawns. Start as early in the season as you can, and be sure to get the root and the central whorl or it will just grow back. Shop your local Home Depot for a wide selection of pre-emergent herbicide, postemergence herbicide, grass seed, fertilizer and the right lawn mower for your needs. When your lawn is underfed, it gets stressed and has a greater chance of being taken over by weeds. Because it’s an annual weed, it will continue to come back unless it is properly taken care of. Most grass species benefit from deep watering. While it's easy to kill crabgrass with herbicides, the best way to remove it and control it is by first pulling it, and then cultivating healthy new grass. Make sure your lawn receives one inch of water per week, either from rain or watering. Leave grass clippings behind to add natural nutrients and shade for the soil. 9 Next spring apply pre-emergent crabgrass control to the new lawn using drop spreader. Apply a crabgrass preventer in the spring. "This article was written in easy terminology and clearly explained the process of how to rid your lawn of, "Want to get rid of crabgrass chemical-free. ", Step 2: Use a post-emergent herbicide labeled for crabgrass. Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to remove crabgrass. Poa annua is green in the winter, so it coexists well with fescue and rye. Still, the crabgrass seems attached. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. ", Step 3: Herbicides made to target crabgrass will be in a liquid form. Actively growing crabgrass in your lawn calls for selective, post-emergent herbicides, such as Image All-In-One Lawn Weed Killer or Image Herbicide Kills Crabgrass, … Approved. Young plants leave only a small hole in your turf, which desirable grass types will quickly fill. Typically, these tools feature a claw or plunger you can drive deep into the ground, under the roots, to remove the plant. By using our site, you agree to our. It is meant for spot treatment and not for a broadcast application. Poa annua weed becomes visible in winter and early spring in dormant lawns, such as Bermuda grass, which turn a straw color in the winter. Weeds thrive in stressed lawns. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. However, it isn’t as effective as an herbicide. Be vigilant; don't allow even one crabgrass plant to thrive and throw seeds and tillers in that area. If you can wait it out, the weed will be gone by winter, and crabgrass won’t return if you apply a pre-emergent next spring . If you already have a crabgrass infestation, then a chemical treatment may be necessary to tackle the problem. ", http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-weeds-pests/10-steps-to-become-crabgrass-free.php, http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/kill-crabgrass.html, https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/g849/the-smarter-way-to-water-your-lawn/, https://www.weedmancanada.com/blog/top-6-ways-maximize-your-lawn-care-investment, http://www.justrightlawns.com/prevent-crabgrass/, https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/corn-gluten-crabgrass-control, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Crabgrass can also make a lawn look unkempt. If at all your lawn ground is hard and dry, watering the area first is the best way in order to soften the soil will make for easier yanking. I feel like this really explained how I can do this.". The best way to kill crabgrass in your lawn is to apply a selective post-emergent crabgrass killer. As an annual grass sown from seed, when the plants die in the fall, they leave gaping holes throughout the lawn during the winter. A thick and lush lawn will leave little space for weeds to grow. The Home Depot carries all the tools and supplies you need to get rid of crabgrass, as well as supplies to prevent crabgrass in your turf grass. Use a hoe or picking tool to assist. ", Step 7: {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Remove-Crabgrass-from-Lawns-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Crabgrass-from-Lawns-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Remove-Crabgrass-from-Lawns-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid714373-v4-728px-Remove-Crabgrass-from-Lawns-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"