Crabgrass: Kill it Early Before it Matures

Crabgrass is something we don't like to hear about - but almost everyone experiences it when spring comes around. Crabgrass will come up on your lawn, in your flower beds, vegetable gardens, between squares in your walk, edges of your driveway and between small rocks in a bank covered with creeping phlox or other ground cover. You can destroy and stop growth crab- grass with chemicals or with a propane torch.

Burning Crabgrass Chemically:

Some chemicals such as Round-Up are all-purpose killers that can kill crab grass, but they also can kill your lawn. Natural or organic products made of plant oils and even vinegar are non-selective, and may also damage your lawn. One that is advertised to 'kill crabgrass in lawns' is MSMA, or a variety of monosodium-acid-methane-arsonate. Some companies have other versions of methane-arsonate. Remember, it is highly important to read the label on crabgrass killer. This is one of the most difficult weeds to kill. If the label states, 'selective,' it will kill only crabgrass, but if it states, 'non-selective,' it will kill everything. Here in Rochester, Indiana, at the True Value store, they carry Triamedic and Ortho - Weed Be Gone for $18.99, that covers 5,000 square feet. At Smith's Farm Store, they have a selection of Scott's: one is 'Halts,' priced at $14.99, and then a better one priced at $24.99 for a bag that covers 13,000 square feet. They probably have higher priced ones also.

If the crabgrass in your lawn is forming large clumps or kind of a mat, you may have to reseed the lawn. You may decide to use a non-selective weed killer, as the crabgrass is a more serious problem than losing a small amount of grass. When the crabgrass clumps are isolated from each other, make a spray barrier by using an open-bottom cardboard box. Your spraying should be confined within this perimeter. Do this spraying when there is no wind.

Crabgrass also appears in other areas such as flower beds, vegetable gardens, edges of driveways or between rocks in a rock/flower area. A specific product, 'Ornamec' is a selective crabgrass killer that is safe to use for most shrubs, trees and ground covers.

You will find a lot more information about killing crabgrass using chemicals in different areas of your lawn and garden at the following website: http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/kill-crabgrass.htm/l.

Burning Crabgrass Using a Flamer (Torch)

Another way to burn crabgrass is to use a handheld propane torch. Typically a small control knob regulates the flame size and intensity on the onboard propane canister. Most handheld torches are small and easy to handle in a garden or lawn. The crabgrass should begin to wilt almost immediately when the flame touches it, or after the flame touches it for 1/10th of a second.

Below are the five important steps for burning crabgrass with a flamer:

1. Insert the butane or propane canister onto the weed torch. Most models use either of these types of fuel. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing the gas canister and lighting the unit.
2. The torch should be adjusted to get the smallest, hottest flame. Generally, the bluer the flame, the hotter it is.
3. Hold the flame on the crabgrass just until the plant shows signs of wilting. This should take three to four seconds.
4. Twenty-four hours later, check the area. The crabgrass should be severely wilted, or brown and dry.
5. Use the torch again on any crabgrass that has not fully dried out. It takes a little practice with your weed torch, as the output on a variety of brands differ in both heat and flame size.

The flamers are useful for killing crabgrass between walkway pavers. The smallest models consist of a backpack that holds propane fuel, a hose and a hooded nozzle at the end of a handle that looks somewhat like a carpet sweeper. Older growing crabgrass is more difficult to kill with a propane torch, so try to get at it when it is small seedlings.

The propane torches, or torch kits, can be rather expensive. I checked Amazon for these, and found they had some with variant prices from $29.99 - up to $99.99. The 'Red Dragon' is considered the best torch kit. Then there is the Bizrate Mini Dragon advertised for $49 at the following website: http://.bizrate.com/powertools/propane-torches/. This is a small torch and easy to handle - check it out.

Another website you might like to check out is: http://.www.gemplers.com/powertools/propane-torches/. They have a rather long list of different components available in different sizes and prices. It is probably less costly to buy a propane-torch kit than to buy it as separate units. You will need a canister for the propane, propane cylinder, hose and nozzle. Those units are usually all included in a propane-torch kit.

One last warning: propane torches can be quite dangerous. If used near other dry vegetation, that area can easily catch on fire. Also, since they are very hot for burning crabgrass, you should be extremely careful and keep the torch away from your clothes and skin.

Sources:
http://www.gardenguides.com/101812-burn-crab-grass.html
http://www.gardenguides.com/887-using-flamers-kill-weeds-flames.html
http://www.amazon.com/propane-torch-kit-500-000/dp/B0000AXEFT
Smith's Farm Store, Rochester, Indiana
Enyart's True Value, Inc., Rochester, Indiana