It’s warming up. When should I apply crabgrass control?

Crabgrass germinates each spring in sunny areas of your lawn, when the soil temperature reaches 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. Note: Crabgrass will not grow in shaded areas of the lawn! 

Veri-Green with Crabgrass Preventer controls crabgrass both before and after it germinates, creating a barrier to fight off crabgrass for up to 16 weeks. The product’s active ingredient, Dimension®, allows for crabgrass control up to the plant’s three leaf stage; a fully mature crabgrass plant has 7 leaves. In most areas this allows an application until late spring, and will control crabgrass all season long. It is important to note that the majority of the other crabgrass controls on the market today will only control crabgrass before it germinates, and for only about 8 weeks!

If we experience a cool, wet spring, crabgrass germination will be delayed, and therefore your application for control should be as well. A good indicator of warming soil temperatures, and to help recognize the correct time to apply your crabgrass control, is when the forsythia bushes bloom their yellow flowers. Otherwise, if you have a soil thermometer you can place it in your lawn, at a minimum of 10 feet away from your house’s foundation. If you apply a crabgrass control product too early, when the ground is still cold, you will be putting some of the product’s control weeks to use even before there is any crabgrass to control. This is the beauty of using Jonathan Green Veri-Green Crabgrass Preventer plus Lawn Fertilizer, you don’t have to worry about applying too late or too early. Even after the crabgrass breaks the surface, you will still have complete coverage because Dimension® will work to control the crabgrass both before and after you see the crabgrass plant, up to the 3-leaf stage.

Do not seed for 3 months after applying this product.

If crabgrass appears during the summer months, ask your dealer about suggesting a spot spray product to control it.

There are many traditional products to help control crabgrass, but the underlying problem of weeds and disease comes from the health of your lawn and the soil it is grown in. A thick and healthy lawn will help ward off problems before they start! A good way to strengthen your lawn’s resistance to weeds is by raising the soil’s pH, and by stimulating soil biology to help feed the grass through the roots and to relieve compaction. Take a look at our exciting soil foods, Mag-I-Cal & Love Your Soil to help grow a thick, strong, and naturally weed-resistant lawn.