Crabgrass
Crabgrass is an annual grassy weed with pale, bluish-green blades that can reach 2 to 5 inches high and are sometimes slightly hairy. Plants grow in flat, broad clumps that crowd out preferred plants, especially turfgrasses.
Crabgrass sprouts from late winter to early spring and summer. The flower heads consist of slender, arching, fingerlike spikes originating from the near the top of the stems. It is very fast growing and likes bare and weak areas of the lawn. It also finds its way into sidewalk and driveway cracks and flower and vegetable gardens.
Location
Crabgrass is found in most of the United States.
Related or Similar Plants
Goosegrass, Bermudagrass, Dallisgrass
Cultural Solutions
- Properly timed (check with your local cooperative extension service) pre-emergent herbicides are key to prevention.
- Existing weeds are easiest to control when young. Keep lawns properly fertilized and healthy.
- Mow lawns to proper height.
- Soil solarization.
