How to Get Rid of Crabgrass in Your Lawn

Crabgrass is an annual grassy weed that germinates from seed each spring, spreads low and wide through summer, and dies with the first hard frost — dropping thousands of seeds that wait for next year. Because it is an annual, you are never really killing the “plant” for good; you are managing the seed cycle.

Once crabgrass is visible, a pre-emergent will not help — it only works before germination. A post-emergent crabgrass treatment can control existing plants, and it works best on young, small crabgrass; mature clumps are stubborn. Mowing at the right height and not scalping the lawn also keeps it from spreading.

Crabgrass moves into thin, bare, and stressed areas. A thick, healthy lawn shades the soil and keeps crabgrass seed from getting the light and space it needs to establish. Consistent feeding, proper mowing height, and good density do more over time than any single spray.

The highest-leverage move is a properly timed pre-emergent before soil temperatures reach the mid-50s next spring. Pair that with a healthy lawn and crabgrass stops being an annual battle.

Our 5-application program opens each season with a pre-emergent and builds lawn density through the year, so crabgrass is prevented rather than chased. Set realistic expectations: the goal is steady year-over-year improvement, not overnight eradication.