Let's talk about Crabgrass (organic, professionals, garden)

[travelingfood]

Namely, how to get rid of these annoying weeds.

Local DIY garden experts, what are your preferred treatments for existing crabgrass problem? How to prevent future growth?

It's everywhere so really don't want to waste tons of rare currency to re-sod only to repeat the problem again in couple of years.

What works and what doesn't? Must I get the professionals involved?

What's your take in this issue?

[Zeerow6]

UF site may help ENH1134/EP395: Crabgrass Biology and Management in Turf

[mtraininjax]

crabgrass - Only best way I know to deal with it is to pull in out by hand. Sorry, best way to kill it.

[FLPL75]

Crabgrass is one of those pesky almost impossible to control weeds. It is an aggressive spreader. It is classified as a warm season annual but because we don't have a lot of freezes it can be considered a perennial.
Should we get a freeze that will kill it a pre-emergent herbicide will be effective and can be applied in January or February.

Some of the things you can do to help control it are to bag your grass clippings to remove the seed heads and hand pull the weeds before they go to seed.

You can use a post-emergent like roundup, however this will also kill the good grass so make sure to use a shovel to cut the runners surrounding the crabgrass to keep the damage to a minimum. You can then either plug or sod the area after it dies.

Post-emergent will not kill the seeds so you will have to watch for new seedlings.

[FL Developer]

Sprinkle baking soda on it. But keep in mind nothing will grow there until the soil pH balances back out, therefore you will have a bare spot.

[riveree]

Pulling crabgrass by hand is fairly easy and effective and safe for you and the environment.

Another option would be corn gluten. Here's an excerpt from Organic Gardening Magazine:

Large crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis
Annual; spreads by seeds/roots at leaf joints; height to 3 feet; found across U.S., except ND and parts of SD, MT, and MN; flowers June through October.

Pull out entire plant, including roots. Mulch or let grass grow to 3 to 4 inches high to prevent seed germination. Mowing will not kill this plant. Spread corn gluten in early spring to suppress seedlings.

12 Of The Most Common Weeds (http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-2-11-237,00.html - broken link)

Also:

Crabgrass
Crabgrass can sprout if you mow the lawn too short, allowing sunlight to germinate the weed's seeds.

Fast fix: Dig plants out completely before they set seed, and sow grass seed in their place.

Prevention: Raise your mower's blade to the highest setting and keep removing weeds from reseeded spots until new grass is established.

Organic Lawn Problem Solver


A good overall organic lawn article:

Organic Lawn Care (http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-4-77-142,00.html - broken link)