What Actually Kills Crabgrass? Lawn Care Options for Northern Virginia

Crabgrass is a major frustration for many homeowners. Because it can grow and spread so rapidly, it doesn’t take long for it to feel like this pesky weed is taking over. While we know there are plenty of crabgrass control products out there that you can pick up at the local hardware store, you want something that works.

Crabgrass is one of those weeds that requires an aggressive approach to be successful.

Jump to Section

• What is Crabgrass?
• How Do Professionals Kill Crabgrass?
• When Is It Too Late to Use Crabgrass Preventer?
• Can I Kill Crabgrass Without Killing My Lawn?
• Other Factors That Affect Crabgrass Growth
• Choosing Lawn Care & Weed Control in Northern VA

In this article, we’ll dive into the most effective crabgrass control strategies that you can deploy to get rid of this weed.

We spoke to our Director of Lawn Care Grant Osvalds about how Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape takes a tough approach with our crabgrass control programs, and what actually works.

What is Crabgrass?

Before we delve into our tips on how to eliminate crabgrass, it's helpful to understand exactly what it is and why it’s such a persistent problem. We know that most homeowners are familiar with crabgrass; however, they sometimes confuse it with other grassy weeds.

Crabgrass is an aggressive annual grassy weed that takes very little nurturing to grow and spread. In just a short amount of time, crabgrass can begin to choke out your desired turfgrasses and wreak havoc on your lawn, says Grant.

Just a single plant can produce up to 75,000 seeds. These lay dormant in the soil until the timing and conditions are just right for germination (in late spring) at which time the weed suddenly flourishes.

Crabgrass will continue growing through the summer, appearing in dense mats across your lawn, particularly in thinned-out areas where it doesn’t have much competition from healthy turfgrass.

While there’s no question that it’s a nuisance, there are solutions. The right crabgrass control strategy can help prevent crabgrass from taking over your lawn, says Grant.

How Do Professionals Kill Crabgrass?

As we’ve mentioned, we know there are plenty of crabgrass control products out there that you can try on your own. However, a professional weed control program is the most effective strategy.

This is because a professional will be using commercial-grade products that are designed to aggressively attack.

Grant says that the Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape program is strongly focused on a preventative strategy.

“We use pre-emergent herbicides, also sometimes called crabgrass preventer, in the early to mid spring to prevent as much crabgrass germination as possible,” he explains. “But some will eventually still start to pop up and that is when we will start with post-emergent sprays that target the breakthrough.”

One of the reasons a professional can be more effective with a preventive strategy is that they will ensure the proper timing and application of these products. Crabgrass preventer products must be applied before germination to be effective, Grant explains.

As Grant mentioned, in addition to using effective crabgrass pre-emergents, we also use post-emergent controls for any breakthrough that does occur. This targeted strategy helps ensure we effectively eliminate this pesky weed.

When Is It Too Late to Use Crabgrass Preventer?

It is too late to use crabgrass prevention products once the weed has already germinated.

The exact timing of when to apply crabgrass preventer depends on soil temperatures. Crabgrass will start germinating when soil temperatures consistently remain above 50°F to 55°F.

This is why professional lawn care companies closely monitor temperatures to determine the optimal timing for applying their products, says Grant. It’s one of the key reasons why professionals tend to be more successful with their crabgrass control programs.

While there are crabgrass preventer products that are sold to homeowners, we know that life gets busy. You might only have limited time on limited weekends to work on your lawn. But when you miss the window for crabgrass pre-emergent products, it can be challenging to play catch-up.

Due to the aggressive nature of this weed, it’s much better to prevent it than to try and deal with it later, urges Grant.

Ultimately, most homeowners would rather let a pro take over their weed control and remove the burden from their plates.

Can I Kill Crabgrass Without Killing My Lawn?

We understand that you don’t want your crabgrass control strategy to somehow harm your lawn. The good news is that using products specifically designed to target crabgrass will not harm your lawn.

At Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape, our focus is on preventing as much crabgrass growth as possible in the first place with crabgrass preventer products. However, our post-emergent products are also specifically designed to target crabgrass.

One thing to note, however, says Grant, is that a key reason we don’t seed lawns in the spring is that crabgrass preventers would kill the new grass. Crabgrass pre-emergents not only stop crabgrass from germinating but also prevent new grass from sprouting.

The material being applied will not distinguish between desired turfgrass seeds and crabgrass seeds, and will ultimately prevent both from growing.

Sometimes people ask us about skipping crabgrass control to seed in the spring, but in our opinion, this is a risky approach.

Failing to control crabgrass can become a potentially serious concern due to the rapid spread of these pesky weeds. Crabgrass also grows most freely in the thinner areas of your lawn, such as those you may have seeded, which makes reseeding a bad idea.

Likewise, broadleaf weed control cannot be applied until your new grass seed has begun to grow and mature enough to be mowed a couple of times. Again, that time frame will end up being very late in the spring to early summer, and by then, your lawn will have also developed quite a crop of weeds along the way.

Other Factors That Affect Crabgrass Growth

A strong weed control strategy can help you tackle crabgrass. But keep in mind that other factors can impact the growth of this, or any other, weed.

The overall state of your lawn as well as how it's cared for can impact the amount of crabgrass in your lawn. It’s important to recognize that a healthy, thick lawn will make it more difficult for crabgrass to grow in.

However, a lawn struggling with drought stress, water damage or with thinned-out areas may be no match for this opportunistic weed.

Even your mowing and trimming habits can play a role.

Mowing grass too short can cause the soil to heat up and can create an unfavorable environment for your healthy turfgrass. As your healthy turf thins out, crabgrass will eagerly fill in. Similarly, scalping the edges of your lawn while string trimming can also create thin areas where crabgrass is more likely to break through.

This is why it’s so important to practice good lawn care habits. Lawn care programs play an important role in promoting thick and healthy grass, which makes it more challenging for weeds to grow, says Grant. And when a strong weed control program is part of that lawn care program, you’ll be set up for great success.

Ultimately, the most effective crabgrass control strategy is one that combines the application of professional lawn care treatments with an overall approach to achieving a thicker, healthier lawn. The thicker the lawn, the fewer bare spots will be available for crabgrass to break through.

To address bare spots, ensure that your full lawn care program includes aeration and overseeding at least once a year, as this is crucial to achieving the lush, thick lawn you desire.

If your lawn has a lot of bare spots, power seeding (a more intense method than aeration and overseeding) may be warranted.

Choosing Lawn Care & Weed Control in Northern VA

Choosing the right lawn care company is also an important factor in your crabgrass control strategy.

The best lawn care company will understand that effective control requires a multifaceted approach. A professional will have access to commercial-grade products, know exactly how and when to apply it, and will incorporate a comprehensive lawn care program to promote an overall healthier lawn.

This attack strategy can help you effectively combat a tough-to-control weed. And when you have a professional handling these services for you, you regain your time and also gain assurance that everything is being done correctly.

By making a wise choice, you’ll get your lawn back on track.

Instead of having to worry that you don’t have the most desirable lawn on the block, you’ll be able to feel confident that you’re on your way to a healthy, thriving lawn in which crabgrass simply won’t stand a chance.

If you’d like to stop worrying about lawn weeds and are ready to hand your problems over to a company you can count on to fix them, request your quote, choose from 3 lawn care package options, and relax as you get the royal treatment.