Kill Crabgrass Now

Crabgrass is extremely reproductive, and a single vigorous plant has been known to produce over 8,000 seeds. There are two common species of crabgrass, but the hairy crabgrass is usually the bigger pest. The botanical name, Digitaria sanguinalis, aptly describes the plant. Translated into English, this means the sanguine finger grass. The name finger Grass refers to the finger-like projections of the seed head, Sanguine means filled with enthusiasm or vitality. Clean up a garden, leave it for a few weeks, and you will soon discover how enthusiastic crabgrass will be.

The common name, crab, evidently arose because the branching, spreading nature of the plant reminded someone of a crab with many legs. Crabgrass is not a native American plant, but has been introduced from Europe. It was most likely brought to this country as an impurity in agricultural seed imported from the Mediterranean countries of southern Europe where the plant was native. Crabgrass is an annual plant. The seed germinates in the lawn from late March to mid-April, depending on locality and weather conditions.

In the garden, seeds will germinate anytime after cultivation when new seeds have been brought close to the surface. In fall after seed production the plant dies, forming brown patches in the lawn. The lime to eliminate crabgrass is in late March before it gets started. Granular herbicides are available that are safe and easy to apply with a fertilizer spreader. Dacthal is one of the most popular crabgrass killers, but other good materials include Bandane, Balan, Betasan, and Tupersan. They may be sold under other names, so check the list of ingredients to know what you are buying.

Follow directions carefully. Do not delay application. Late application will result in disappointment, since these chemicals have no killing power after seeds have germinated. Is there anything good about crabgrass? In some parts of Poland and Germany it was once cultivated and eaten as a substitute for rice. Seeds were cleaned carefully and in a rather involved process. A bushel of seeds with chaff produced only about two quarts of cleaned edible seeds. At one time some strawberry growers were said to have allowed crabgrass to grow over their plants in late summer. They found that after it died in fall, it eliminated the need to spread straw over the plants for winter protection. Most gardeners agree, however, that there is nothing very good about crabgrass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crabgrass