You probably know the name of this plant, but can you identify it when you see it? Crabgrass is one of the most well-known weeds in the entire world, but it is often ignored or misidentified. This invasive plant will destroy your lawn if you do not know how to identify and deal with it.
The experts at SKB wanted to share their knowledge with you so that you can keep your lawn and plants protected against crabgrass. Call SKB after reading, or contact your local lawn care provider for more information on controlling invasive weeds on your property. Let’s get started!
Yes. Crabgrass is considered a weed because it is an invasive plant that can crowd out the grass in your lawn and steal valuable nutrients from the soil. It is a grassy weed that typically has a prostrate growth habit (low and wide growing) and forms dense mats. Crabgrass is commonly found in lawns, gardens, and other areas where grass is present.
Crabgrass roots are shallow, which is a common characteristic of many grassy weeds. This shallow rooting system allows the plant to spread quickly and easily, and it will overtake your desired grass if it is left untreated. The poor root system and clump-like growth of this plant makes it undesirable for lawns, which is why crabgrass is a dreaded weed!
To identify crabgrass, look for bunches or clumps of grass blades that are more narrow and have a lighter green color than the surrounding turf in your lawn. They are typically about 1/8 inch wide and 2-6 inches long but can grow up to a foot in length. The leaf blades are smooth with small teeth on the margins (edges). The leaves grow in opposite pairs on the stem. The nodes (joints) of crabgrass plants are thick and spongy. The stems are smooth and hairless.
In late spring or early summer, crabgrass produces seed heads that are long and thin, similar to a string of pearls. Each seed head contains many small seeds that are brown or black in color. These seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to five years. Crabgrass can be tricky to identify because it can look like other grassy weeds or even the grass in your lawn. Here are some key characteristics that will help you identify crabgrass:
Crabgrass belongs to the plant genus known as Digitaria. The most notable and prevalent species are hairy crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum).
Hairy crabgrass is the more aggressive type, but smooth crabgrass is the more common variety found in lawns and cultivated areas. It probably goes without saying, but you can tell these two types of crabgrass apart by either the presence or lack of tiny hairs all over the plant. Hairy crabgrass has these little, spiky hairs, while smooth crabgrass does not. Smooth crabgrass will also likely grow lower to the ground and have smaller leaves.
Crabgrass is a warm-season annual weed that grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It typically germinates in late spring, when soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Once germinated, crabgrass will continue to grow and spread throughout the summer months. In late summer or early fall, the plant will produce seed heads and then die off with the first frost.
A single crabgrass plant can produce up to 150,000 seeds per season, which means that the smallest presence of crabgrass can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation. Crabgrass also has shallow roots that make it difficult to pull out of the ground, and the plant often grows back quickly after being removed.
In addition, as previously mentioned, crabgrass seeds can remain dormant in the soil for several years before germinating. This means that even if you're able to get rid of all the crabgrass plants in your lawn today, there's a good chance that the weed will come back next year or even several years from now.
Crabgrass is known to be difficult to get rid of once it emerges in your lawn. As is the case with all weeds, the best treatment is to prevent crabgrass from ever emerging by maintaining healthy grass. Crabgrass seeks out damaged and dry lawns, so having a lawn that is lush and full is key!
An important thing to keep in mind is that crabgrass grows low to the ground, which means it struggles to get adequate sunlight when the surrounding grass is too tall. Simply raising your mower blade one or two inches could go a long way in preventing crabgrass and other unwanted weeds. You can also pull the weed by hand after it emerges, but it can be tricky to remove 100% of the plant and its roots. The poor root system of crabgrass can be exploited in the following ways:
Your best option for an existing crabgrass problem is to call a local lawn care company, like SKB. We have been eradicating weeds from lawns ever since we opened our doors, and we are confident that we can help you too! Call us for a free quote or to find out more about our commercial lawn care services for Georgia!
