Holy Crabgrass Batman....

[TLS]

Is it just me, or is this a BANNER year for Crabgrass in the Northeast??? :(

With the wet summer so far, and it raining almost every night, heavy dew, and HOT days, the stuff is thriving.

This would have been the year for 3 apps of pre-emergent. I got it growing smack dab in the middle of some lawns that NEVER had a problem before! The edges around sidewalks and driveways are infested, and is taking more trim time per lawn.

Anyone else in other parts of the country experiencing this?

[Turfdude]

I see a lot in properties that didn't receive a pre-M. I have only 1 client calling to date w/ regards to a crabgrass complaint. We just took on this account in March for fertilizing. Their lawn was sparse in areas and I forewarned them about the potential crabgrass problem. Now I have to remind them of the pre-season conversation and sell them a renovation package for the fall.

They have given us several compliments regarding our broadleaf weed control, so I don't think they'll have a problem w/ the renovation.

[kickin sum grass]

not to much on crab grass. Deminsion 1 app in spring is holding up well. It is the goosegrass that I am having a hard time with. I got it everywhere including places that never had it before. Heavy infestations. Thank god for the cooler days and rain cuz the MSMA has been going like mad.

[HacMan91]

we have it bad down here too!!

[twippingbillie]

I have it bad in my own yard. I just used some liquid weed killer and it all seems to be dying now. Weeds covered about 15-20% of my lawn. What do you guys think my next step should be? Aerate and over seed? Or should I take a tiller to the larger patches and re-seed? Thanks.

[Runner]

Originally posted by TLS
With the wet summer so far, and it raining almost every night, heavy dew, and HOT days, the stuff is thriving.
This would have been the year for 3 apps of pre-emergent.

This is exactly right. The Pre-M is long gone, and we now have all sorts of new crabgras popping up. Dimension has been helpful, as long as it is hit before the 5 leaf stage. The problem is, with some non-irrigated lawns, we haven't had any significant rainfall in the last few weeks to get it down in. But like you said, we could've just used Pre-m right straight through, this year. The weeds just keep germinating, and germinating, and germinating. Unusual conditions this year.

[dvmcmrhp52]

YYEPPPPP!

[DLCS]

TLS,


Crabgrass is bad here in the midwest too. I never get crabgrass in my lawn but I got it this year. I have several customers who have it growing along the driveways and sidewalks.

[KirbysLawn]

Same here also, I have it in lawns that have had no problems in years.

[Tharrell]

I have a large area that was tilled for a garden but never got planted. It's pure crabgrass, pure.

[Westbrooklawn]

Crabgrass is the worst I have seen it in my 13 years in this business. I attribute it to the extremely wet year we had early on. Even lawns that received pre-m are showing abundant grabgrass. I assume the extreme rain has leached the pendimethelin out of the soil quicker than normal. Actually "broken down the barrier" would be more accurate than "leached".

[mrbenfer]

Here in Iowa with the high dew points and humidity we get it bad also.


P&P LawnCare*Landscape

[Scraper]

If I recall...last year, everyone was saying that year was the worst with all the dry hot weather we were having. I guess we all need to keep our excuses in line. ;)

Guess I'll put this thread in my favorite folder to compare to next year. LOL

[Richard Martin]

For my good customers I have put down 2 apps of Dimension this year. One in early March and another one in June and it seems to be working very well. I only have 3 lawns where crabgrass is a problem and I am considering giving 1 the heave ho. The other 2 pay too much money to just let go because of crabgrass.

[turfman33]

Plenty of crabgrass here in Orlando too. I have one lawn I would say about 60-80% of it is crabgrass.

take it easy

Steve

[rodfather]

Bumper crop of it this year over here in Joysee, Tommy. I gotta think it's from all the rain we've had in June and July this year...pre-m back in early spring ain't gonna cut it right now.:(

[General Grounds]

:blob3: heck yeah, wicked here to, im tryin to spray the "hot" spots as we finish up mowin. lawn that have never had it, this year are loaded. tony

[GLAN]

We have a little more crabgrass, nothing to be alarmed about. And it's usualy where it is expected to be, just larger area of it.

Now Yellow Nutsedge?
Although it was cool going into summer and it is smaller. This year for me the nutsedge is what I am concerned with.

[BRL]

Originally posted by Scraper
If I recall...last year, everyone was saying that year was the worst with all the dry hot weather we were having. I guess we all need to keep our excuses in line. ;)


Scraper,
You beat me to it!! I was thinking the same thing. I don't remember if I posted in the threads from the past few years with the same observations about abundant crabgrass, but THIS year is the worst I've ever seen ;) . I would also bet the 10 inches of rain in June pretty much used up the Pre M apps from earlier in the season. I've never had real bad spots of it in the lawns (usually some edges, bare spots etc. if it was noticable), so I've never treated it in lawns. What does everyone use for post emergent selective apps for it? Thanks.

[Strawbridge Lawn]

I put Dimension down in two apps this year.. Only a few spots here and there.

[CMerLand]

One app of dimension on fert here and seems to be doing a great job.

And now my opinion for the real reason why your seeing more crabgrass this year then last has more to do with the drought last year then the rain this year. Last year with the drought and watering restrictions, crabgrass was the only thing growing last summer and usual thick lawns were thinned and opened up for crabgrass invasion. This is why your seeing crabgrass in lawns and areas youve never seen it previously.

I would also agree that the heavy rains of the spring AND way too early in the season pre-emergent applications have helped create the problem, particularly for those who apply based on calendar date rather then on actual conditions. Soil temperatures were real slow to warm up in April and didnt crack 55 degrees until early to mid May. Those lawns treated in March, combined with the excessive rain to help spead up breakdown and the late germination all add up to heavy crabgrass.

As far as treating post emergent, I have used MSMA pretty effectively but have to be careful about temperatures as you can burn the turf. Acclaim is supposed to work great but expensive as hell.

[GLAN]

Great post ^

Hit the nail on the head with looking back to the previous season. Where else did the seeds come from?

[jaredslawncare]

Ive got it bad, but not as bad as leaf spot this year. I put some Daconil down so hopefully that will help.

[bastalker]

Ok so yeah crabgrass is abundent everywhere right now, due to the excessive amounts of rain. The pre em is long gone, and the crabgrass is overiding alot of my accounts....What do ya think? Suck it up till next spring, or give it a good dose of Dimension this fall?

[Gr grass n Hi tides]

There's crabgrass & also a lot of that "spike grass" sh@ which I hate!!!!!!!! Mow it & 2.5 days later it sticking those ugly spikes up 6 inches. I can't believe the season on it this year is soooooooo long with all the rain.