WTF! This crab grass is out of control.

[DesertDevil]

This stuff took over and pretty much ruined my backyard lawn.

I first tried Scotts Turfbuilder with crabgrass control. Nothing.

Then tried Ortho Weed be Gone with crabgrass control. Nothing.

I then tried this stuff that was given to me by the maintenence man at school. Damn stuff fried my grass, but did nothing to the crab grass.

I know if I nuked it all with Roundup that would do the trick. It would kill my lawn though as well.

At this point, Im just not going to water the lawn in hopes that it will kill off the crab grass. After a couple weeks, start watering again daily.

Any other suggestions?

 

[shiz]

Damn, I'm with ya. I've had more weeds this year than any other year in my house(10 yrs).

I got blue grass this year, which I never had before.

 

[C.P.]

If ya have the cash, just go w/a lawn service...ie...chem-lawn

They do mine...the shit is perfect year after year...and to top it off

my neighbors got them after me...

so I got 7..referrals...which equals..free money...$210...

 

[EasyMoney]

This stuff took over and pretty much ruined my backyard lawn.

I first tried Scotts Turfbuilder with crabgrass control. Nothing.

Then tried Ortho Weed be Gone with crabgrass control. Nothing.

I then tried this stuff that was given to me by the maintenence man at school. Damn stuff fried my grass, but did nothing to the crab grass.

I know if I nuked it all with Roundup that would do the trick. It would kill my lawn though as well.

At this point, Im just not going to water the lawn in hopes that it will kill off the crab grass. After a couple weeks, start watering again daily.

Any other suggestions?

I have college degrees in golf turf management and commercial turf management so maybe I can help you out a little bit here.

First of all crabgrass is a warm season annual grass. It doesn't germinate until soil temps are around 60 degrees. Because its an annual all the crab you have is new, its not stuff from last year. Here are a few things that may help you out.

Right off if your currently watering daily that is a big part of the problem. Crabgrass likes moisture. Cut the water back as much as possible.

It also likes full, hot sun. It is not very shade tolerant at all. So one thing that will help you out alot is raise the height of cut on your mower. Try 3 inches. This will provide more shade to the soil surface and will help to prevent new seeds from germinating.

Fertilizing you lawn may also help. The thicker you desired grass is the less room there is for weeds to grow.

If your going to try and spray it out look for an herbicide with MSMA (monosodium acid of methanearsonate) in it. Its pretty cheap and works well. It will yellow you grass though. Alot of the problem with herbicides that homeowners can buy from places like home depot is that they just aren't as strong as the stuff I can buy with my ornamental & turf pesticide license. The MSMA I use on the golf course is called Target 6.6 and it will take crabgrass out with no problem, but it contains 51% MSMA.

 

[C.P.]

I have college degrees in golf turf management and commercial turf management so maybe I can help you out a little bit here.

.

WTF....where did you to college ...

I thought I had it easy...

you one up'ed me......:toast:

well done

 

[EasyMoney]

WTF....where did you to college ...

I thought I had it easy...

you one up'ed me......:toast:

well done

I don't know about that one. I went to georgia. But I really am not that big of a fan of what I do for a living. I don't know what you do but I'd probably trade ya. My job is fairly stressful. Damm golfers have unrealistic expectations. They watch the masters and wonder why their golf course doesn't look like that. They don't understand the difference between having an 800K budget and having a 7 mil budget.

 

[C.P.]

I don't know about that one. I went to georgia. But I really am not that big of a fan of what I do for a living. I don't know what you do but I'd probably trade ya. My job is fairly stressful. Damm golfers have unrealistic expectations. They watch the masters and wonder why their golf course doesn't look like that. They don't understand the difference between having an 800K budget and having a 7 mil budget.

I went to XU..

Xaiver...

I am an arbitrator and work from home...

not a bad gig....for sure...:toast:

 

[barman]

WCC, I presume your primary turf is bermuda?

If so, the counsel of EasyMoney is right on track based on my own experience doing residential lawn/garden work in North Texas for 12 years.

Here in Central Florida, not as much a problem with crabgrass as most of the middle income and higher residences install St Augustine turf

 

[barman]

Also would add that if your primary turf is in fact bermuda, then treating the crab grass with a tank sprayer (MSMA) rather than a wide angle hose end sprayer is the better bet.

Fertilize the bermuda and keep it watered so that it blooms and reseeds. Cut the overall area at 2 1/2 to 3" so as to increase the shaded portions. And then target the crabgrass directly with a tank sprayer.

And I don't suggest killin' yourself, but if you can invest 20 to 30 minutes a week for next few weeks to just simply pull as much crabgrass as possible you'll reduce it's ability to reseed itself.

 

[DesertDevil]

WCC, I presume your primary turf is bermuda?

If so, the counsel of EasyMoney is right on track based on my own experience doing residential lawn/garden work in North Texas for 12 years.

Here in Central Florida, not as much a problem with crabgrass as most of the middle income and higher residences install St Augustine turf

Correct. Bermuda it is.

Since the Bermuda never really dies, just goes dormant, I dont think it would hurt it to not water it for 2-3 weeks. Im gonna dry out the soil and hope this slows down the spread of the crab grass.

If this doesnt work, I guess Im gonna have to hire a professional. Ive F-d it up enough already.

Thanks.

 

[barman]

Last note regarding MSMA. EasyMoney correctly notes that what's available in retail outlets is indeed weaker, but you can increase your ootency by using less water in the tank sprayer mix.

Adding a small mix of Roundup into that tank sprayer can also help, though you'll want to be more deliberate about where you spray as it will yellow out the bermuda.

 

[barman]

And frankly, I'm always advising people of the advantages of xeriscaping your property so that you have less lawn turf anyway.

Most lawn turfs cost way more to maintain in time/money than they return to you in value.

 

[applepicks]

I have college degrees in golf turf management and commercial turf management so maybe I can help you out a little bit here.

First of all crabgrass is a warm season annual grass. It doesn't germinate until soil temps are around 60 degrees. Because its an annual all the crab you have is new, its not stuff from last year. Here are a few things that may help you out.

Right off if your currently watering daily that is a big part of the problem. Crabgrass likes moisture. Cut the water back as much as possible.

It also likes full, hot sun. It is not very shade tolerant at all. So one thing that will help you out alot is raise the height of cut on your mower. Try 3 inches. This will provide more shade to the soil surface and will help to prevent new seeds from germinating.

Fertilizing you lawn may also help. The thicker you desired grass is the less room there is for weeds to grow.

If your going to try and spray it out look for an herbicide with MSMA (monosodium acid of methanearsonate) in it. Its pretty cheap and works well. It will yellow you grass though. Alot of the problem with herbicides that homeowners can buy from places like home depot is that they just aren't as strong as the stuff I can buy with my ornamental & turf pesticide license. The MSMA I use on the golf course is called Target 6.6 and it will take crabgrass out with no problem, but it contains 51% MSMA.

Damn, I thought I was the only one that would study turf at school. Post grad is even in weed sciences. How I wish I could choose a career where people,golfers and others are not such dickheads when it comes to grass. Listen up assholes: IT'S FUCKIN GRASS WE'RE GROWING HERE. FUCKIN GRASS.

 

[NES]

You got crab grass? I think they make special combs for that.

 

[G.MONEY]

I don't know about that one. I went to georgia. But I really am not that big of a fan of what I do for a living. I don't know what you do but I'd probably trade ya. My job is fairly stressful. Damm golfers have unrealistic expectations. They watch the masters and wonder why their golf course doesn't look like that. They don't understand the difference between having an 800K budget and having a 7 mil budget.

Come on EM....I assume you are at a Private Club?...do you lease your equipment or own...., how many acres?..800k sounds like enough Can you guess what I do?

 

[C.P.]

Come on EM....I assume you are at a Private Club?...do you lease your equipment or own...., how many acres?..800k sounds like enough Can you guess what I do?

Can I guess...

are we getting together for the horses....just askin'

 

[EasyMoney]

Come on EM....I assume you are at a Private Club?...do you lease your equipment or own...., how many acres?..800k sounds like enough Can you guess what I do?

I'm actually at at public club that I guess you could call semi-private. But the owners want to take it completly private in the next year or so. And ya 800K is fine for the place. Its about 140 acres total with around 90 acres of maintained turfgrass. I have no complaints about the budget really just that these dickhead golfers all think the place should look like TPC @ Sawgrass. The real problem you run into is 50 members will say hey the greens are to fast. Then 60 members will say hey the greens are to slow. Basically no matter what you do 50% of the people don't like it and bitch to you all the time about it.

 

[Kornholio]

just forget about it this year and get a pre-emergant down next year before it germinates.

 

[Betallsports]

just forget about it this year and get a pre-emergant down next year before it germinates.

Very True, Your First Fight with Crabgrass should be the Fall.

 

[treece]

I don't know why people worry so much about their lawns.