[rockee]

I have read the threads concerning crabgrass but I'm trying to see if this applies to the Northeast.

Last fall I pulled out all grass to start a new lawn. In april, I had delivered a compost/loam mixture and spread it.I seeded with pennington's smart seed - and made a mixture of all fescue and Rye - no bluegrass.

After a month, the lawn started coming up, and then little by little the crabgrass came. On one side there is about 20% crabgrass, and on another there is 80% crabgrass.

a few questions:
Does this have anything to do with type of seed used?

Should i use a post-emergent, and if so which one? Corn gluten or a something else?

Should I just wait for the crabgrass to die on it's own?

Should I overseed now?

I'm assuming I should use pre-emergent in spring.

Any other hints appreciated.

 

[Stillwater]

this is a easy fix, Your in MA. take a cruise over to lesco and pick up some Drive mix it up spray the crab grass problem solved. if Drive is out of your price range hit the home depot buy what they have and struggle with the crab grass.

 

[jkason]

PRE-emergent is the way to go. It's easier.
Scotts 4-step program works well for me.

There is always "some" weed seed in a mixture - no way around it.
And no way to guarantee that there's none in the compost mix.

 

[captn]

Scott's 4 step program worked for me as well.

The first step has a pre-emergent in it so nothing will seed.....good and bad grass alike. If it is really bad, throw it down again in early summer to ensure it holds all year.

That should give your new lawn time to fill out. Keep the grass longer and healthy, as the best preventive measure for crabgrass and other weeds is a full, healthy, deep rooted lawn.

Cap