Crabgrass Control for Turf

Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in open, warming soil and spreads rapidly during hot weather. Large and smooth crabgrass are common in lawns, sports turf, and golf roughs.

How to Identify Crabgrass

Seedlings have wide pale-green blades and a spreading habit. Mature plants root at lower nodes and form coarse patches; smooth crabgrass is mostly hairless, while large crabgrass has noticeable hairs on leaves and sheaths.

Why It Appears in Turf

Thin turf, low mowing, compacted soil, summer irrigation, and gaps along pavement create warm seedbeds. Plants die after frost but leave abundant seed for future seasons.

Make the Site Less Favorable

• Maintain the recommended mowing height and avoid scalping.
• Correct irrigation, drainage, compaction, fertility, or shade problems that thin desirable turf.
• Repair bare areas and use adapted turf cultivars to close openings where seedlings establish.

Choosing a Turf Herbicide

Use the products below as a starting point, then match the herbicide to the desirable turf species and the weed's growth stage. Preemergence products must be applied and activated before germination; postemergence products work best on small, actively growing weeds. Repeat applications may be needed where the label allows.

Label note: Confirm the desirable turf species, use site, target weed, application timing, rate, adjuvant directions, and reseeding restrictions on the current label before use.