How To Get Rid Of Crabgrass In Your Lawn

Before relying on chemicals, you should try organic methods like hand pulling. This method is environmentally friendly and safe for other plants and beneficial insects in your garden. Hand pulling is also ideal when crabgrass invasion is small.

You can use your hands or a garden weed to pull out crabgrass. Wet the soil a day in advance to loosen it, making it easier to pull out the grass. Ensure you remove the entire plant from the ground because if you pull out only the stems and leave the roots underground, it will regrow. Also, remove them when they are young.

Regular hoeing is necessary to maintain a neat, beautiful-looking garden and lawn and grow healthy, tidy rows of vegetables. A hoe is an essential tool for serious gardeners as they cut through weeds below the surface. Choose a sunny day for hoeing when the soil is dry to avoid clumping.

Position the hoe near the base of the weeds and push and pull the hoe back and forth. A sharp hoe blade will cleanly cut through the stems of the crabgrass and uproot it entirely. Take your time, as a casual swing might sever the stem of a plant instead of a weed, which is ineffective.

Regular mowing keeps a lawn weed-free by preventing weeds from spreading and promoting healthy grass growth. By cutting off the tops of weeds before they produce seeds, mowing stops them from reproducing and spreading.

It also encourages the germination of desirable grass, leading to a thick, dense, and healthy lawn that crowds out weeds, making it harder for them to establish and grow.

Dethatching is the process of removing excessive thatch, a mat-like layer of organic material that rests between grass blades, fixed roots, and the layer of soil below. The organic material also includes invasive grass like crabgrass. 

Excessive thatch can cause damage to your lawn and ruin the aesthetics. Therefore, when you dethatch grass, you reduce the thickness of the turf. This reduction can make it easier to spot and remove crabgrass seedlings before they establish themselves. The best time to dethatch your lawn is during its growing season.

Aeration involves removing small plugs of soil from your lawn to enhance air, water, and nutrient circulation. While it does not kill crabgrass, it fosters a healthier environment for desirable grass, helping it outcompete crabgrass. Aeration breaks up compacted soil, allowing essential elements to reach the roots of the desired grass.

Healthy grass competes with crabgrass for resources and reduces its population. It also reduces thatch, improving air circulation and nutrient absorption. The best time to aerate is in spring or fall when the grass is actively growing. Avoid aerating when the soil is wet or frozen. If you do not have an aerator, you can use a garden fork to loosen the soil. Insert the fork into the ground and work in a crisscross pattern.

Fire is an excellent crabgrass killer. You can burn crabgrass patches using a weed torch to reduce crabgrass damage quickly. Burning not only kills the roots, stems, and leaves but also destroys the seeds on the surface and within the top layer of soil. This seed destruction leads to fewer new plants emerging in the future.

It is important to follow local regulations and safety guidelines when burning crabgrass to prevent unintended fires and damage. Having a hose on hand makes it safer.  As effective as this method is, there are drawbacks. You can end up killing beneficial insects, earthworms, and other organisms essential for soil health.

Overseeding involves sowing new grass seed over an existing lawn. It promotes the growth of healthy grass and competes with crabgrass for resources. This ultimately starves the crabgrass and kills it. Overseeding thickens the lawn and reduces bare patches where crabgrass can take root.

This makes the environment inhospitable for crabgrass to thrive. Before you sprinkle new seeds, prepare your lawn by mowing your grass at about 1.5 inches, removing debris like leaves or twigs, and aerating the soil. Then, select a grass seed type suitable for your climate and soil conditions and spread the seed evenly over the lawn. Water regularly and fertilize for healthy growth. 

Proper watering techniques can help control and reduce crabgrass by promoting the health and growth of desirable grass. Watering your lawn early in the morning ensures deep water penetration into the soil and minimizes the risk of fungal diseases.

This deep penetration encourages the roots of these grasses to grow deeper into the soil, making them more drought-tolerant and resilient. These qualities help them outcompete shallow-rooted weeds like crabgrass.

Mulch is an effective tool for eliminating crabgrass from your lawn. It blocks sunlight from reaching the soil, which crabgrass seeds need to germinate and grow. By creating this barrier, mulch inhibits the growth of crabgrass effectively.

Additionally, mulch regulates soil temperature, keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter, which discourages crabgrass growth in warm conditions. It also retains soil moisture, helping desirable grasses compete better against crabgrass, which prefers dry soil for germination.

Pre-emergent herbicides are chemicals that prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating by forming a barrier in the soil. They are applied before these seeds sprout, typically in early spring or late summer/early fall. They reduce overall weed populations in lawns and gardens.

After application, these herbicides require watering or rainfall to activate and penetrate the soil where weed seeds reside. Some types selectively target specific weeds without harming desirable plants, while others have a broader impact.

To apply, distribute the herbicide evenly using a calibrated spreader, then lightly water the area to activate it. Avoid disturbing treated soil to maintain the herbicide barrier.

A post-emergent herbicide targets crabgrass after it has emerged and is actively growing, unlike pre-emergent herbicides that prevent germination. These herbicides can act on contact, killing weeds upon touching their foliage or systemically, being absorbed by the plant, and killing it from within.

When using a post-emergent herbicide, choose one specifically formulated to target crabgrass to avoid harming nearby plants and grass. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully for application rates and methods. Apply the herbicide evenly over the foliage of the weeds to ensure complete coverage.

If you are wondering how to get rid of crabgrass in your lawn naturally without using herbicide, try a corn gluten meal treatment. Derived from corn processing, this natural product works by forming a barrier in the soil that inhibits crabgrass seed germination and root formation. To apply corn gluten meal effectively, do so before crabgrass seeds germinate in early spring and again in late summer or early fall.

Apply about 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet of garden area, adjusting based on the specific product's concentration and guidelines. Evenly spread the corn gluten meal over the soil using a spreader or by hand, then lightly water the area to activate the gluten and help it integrate into the soil. This approach supports natural weed control while promoting a healthier lawn environment.

Another solution for crabgrass removal is vinegar. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which disrupts plant cells, leading to the leakage of fluids and dehydration of plant tissues. It is particularly effective against young weeds with shallow root systems.

Household vinegar typically has 5% acetic acid suitable for younger plants. More mature and deeply rooted weeds may require a stronger vinegar concentration, exceeding 20%. Multiple applications are often necessary to manage newly germinated and emerging weeds.

Acetic acid performs best under hot and sunny conditions, and adding surfactants can enhance its effectiveness. For a vinegar solution, mix equal parts vinegar, water, and dish soap in a clean spray bottle. For tougher weeds, undiluted vinegar can be used directly.

Boiling water is a simple yet effective method to kill crabgrass. When scalding water makes contact with the grass, it breaks down the plants' protective waxy cuticle and disrupts their internal structure.

Unlike chemical pesticides that can vaporize in the air, boiling water flows downward, ensuring direct contact with crabgrass, and reaches difficult-to-reach places like sidewalks, between pavers, or under decks.

Introducing beneficial insects, such as predatory beetles, parasitic wasps, and nematodes, supports natural pest control in your garden or lawn. It is crucial to control the pest population because these pests feed on healthy grass.

With fewer pests consuming healthy grass, the population of healthy grass increases and directly competes with crabgrass for food and water. This makes it difficult for crabgrass to survive.  Therefore, establishing a balanced ecosystem with beneficial insects helps to suppress the growth of pesky weeds like crabgrass.

Crabgrass can sprout and mature quickly. They disperse through various means like wind, water, or animals. Once they establish their root system, it can be challenging to control them. Mature crabgrass competes with healthy grass for resources and can invade the entire lawn if left unchecked.

Therefore, it is crucial to identify and remove weeds early to prevent their growth and spread. Removing crabgrass before it matures starts with regular inspection. By regularly inspecting your lawn and garden, you will spot crabgrass in its infancy stage and be able to remove them before they have a chance to mature.

Planting trees or shrubs to increase shade in areas prone to crabgrass can effectively reduce its population. Crabgrass thrives in full sun and warm soil conditions. By introducing trees or shrubs that provide shade, less sunlight reaches the soil surface, creating a cool environment that is less favorable for crabgrass germination and growth.

Furthermore, the shade from the trees and shrubs helps regulate soil moisture by reducing evaporation. This reduction contributes to consistently moist soil conditions, which are less conducive to crabgrass growth. Additionally, trees and shrubs with dense foliage compete with crabgrass for water, nutrients, and space.

Cardboard smothering is a natural and chemical-free approach to eradicating weeds such as crabgrass by blocking their access to light, air, and the soil surface. Placing layers of cardboard or thick newspaper directly over weed-infested areas prevents sunlight from reaching the weeds, hindering their ability to photosynthesize and survive.

Over time, the lack of sunlight weakens and kills the weeds, including their roots. As the cardboard gradually decomposes over several months, it enriches the soil with organic matter, improving soil structure and fertility. This decomposition supports the growth of desired plants once the cardboard is removed.

A weed barrier, or landscape fabric, suppresses weed growth like crabgrass in gardens, flowerbeds, and other landscaped areas. The main purpose of a weed barrier is to hinder the germination and growth of weed seeds by preventing sunlight from reaching the soil surface. 

They are made from materials like polypropylene or polyester. These materials are permeable, allowing water, air, and nutrients to pass through the soil while blocking sunlight.  This lack of sunlight deprives crabgrass and other weeds of the necessary light for photosynthesis, effectively suppressing their growth.

Installation involves placing weed barriers directly on the soil before planting. They are customized by cutting them to fit around existing plants or arranging them in strips for new plantings. 

If you lack the time to apply DIY methods for removing crabgrass from your garden, consider hiring a professional service. Many factors encourage crabgrass growth, such as soil conditions, shade, watering, mowing, and more. Without proper understanding, your efforts to control them may be ineffective.

Even with repeated applications of herbicides or home remedies, weeds can persist or spread to new areas if the underlying conditions remain favorable for their growth. Without professional insight, identifying and addressing these conditions can be challenging, making it difficult to achieve lasting results.