Q: Is there anything that can be done at this time in the summer to treat crabgrass? I didn’t treat it in the spring.
— Betty Bukovi
Coventry Township
A: Unfortunately, no. Controlling crabgrass is very difficult at this stage in the plants’ development, said Joe Rimelspach, a plant pathologist at Ohio State University who specializes in turf grass.
Your best option is to apply a pre-emergent crabgrass killer next April to stop the crabgrass seeds from germinating and producing new plants. Keep in mind that the herbicide will also keep other seeds from germinating, so don’t do this if you’ll also be reseeding your lawn.
If that doesn’t produce satisfactory results, you can follow up with a post-emergent crabgrass control as soon as you see crabgrass in the lawn, usually around mid-June. Two applications, two weeks apart, are usually needed, according to the OSU Extension fact sheet Annual Grass Weed Control in Home Lawns.
The fact sheet has other good information on controlling crabgrass. You can read it at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/4000/4002.html.
Keep in mind that mowing properly and maintaining a healthy lawn are the best ways to keep crabgrass out.
Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her at 330-996-3756, or send email to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address.
