wdrake – posted 16 August 2001 16:58
Last year I spent most of the winter months digging, pulling, burning and cussing the maze of residual dead crabgrass plants in my yard. I was semi-successful in removingA good portion of this unwanted dead stuff. Unfortunately the preemergence treatment provided by my lawn service was not effective and I now have another bumper crop.. My question: Is there any value added if I leave the dead vegetation in place and sprig/plug St Augustine through it and then apply the preemergence control next spring?
seed – posted 17 August 2001 20:39
Bill, a dead crabgrass cover will suppress weed seed germination. But the benefit may only compensate for the suppression of St. Augustinegrass coverage which is also caused by the dead vegetation. What could tip the balance one way or the other is timing. I see the logic, that if you let the dead crabgrass stay all winter, while the St. Augustinegrass is regrouping and getting rooted, maybe the St. Augustine can get the jump on the weeds in the spring. That assumes that the St. Augustinegrass is released from the decomposing crab grass thatch, just in time for spring. Actually, however, I think that argument falls apart in this case.
The reason is that St. Augustinegrass has better winter growth than crabgrass, in my opinion, and will benefit more from the lower water use, therefore if other factors are favorable during the winter, the St. Augustine will gain a compound benefit.
Based on that logic, I would rake the area clean.
Phil
tdkx – posted 19 August 2001 09:07
We must address the fact that crabgrass is an annual form of grass. Coverages for even the best pre-emergent herbicides are only 45 days. The obvious solution to your problem is that you must keep re-applying a pre-emergent within the time frame that the label states. If I were you, I would pull all of the crabgrass(including the roots) and apply another pre-emergent. Gallery is the best pre-emergent that I know of and is very effective. Unfortunately, it is very expensive as well. Balan and Barricade are other good pre-emergents. Always remember that crabgrass is an annual and propagates itself by seed and that this is the best way to control it. Crabgrass seed begins germination when the soil temp hits 55 degrees F. Since you are in a warmer area this might make crabgrass a little more difficult to control. Also, I am not familiar with warm season grasses and their method of reproduction. If your grass is an perennial then you are in great shape to control any crabgrass with my suggestions.
Good Luck,TDKX
school boy – posted 19 September 2001 07:46
just put some fertilzer on .
MIKE – posted 22 October 2001 18:11
TRY HITTING CRAGRASS WITH IMAGE EVERY 30 DAYS IF YOUR COMPANY DOESN’T HAVE ANYMORE ASULOX TO APPLY TO THE CRABGRASS IF THEY DO THEN CALL THEM TO KEEP COMING OUT TO KEEP IT AT A MINIMUM
Jbrinkman – posted 26 November 2001 21:20
Bill,
I think what you need to do is let me bring over some dollar weed from my front yard and let it take over your lawn,, it looks much nicer than the crabrass.
JohnNiceville, FL
quote:Originally posted by wdrake:Last year I spent most of the winter months digging, pulling, burning and cussing the maze of residual dead crabgrass plants in my yard. I was semi-successful in removingA good portion of this unwanted dead stuff. Unfortunately the preemergence treatment provided by my lawn service was not effective and I now have another bumper crop.. My question: Is there any value added if I leave the dead vegetation in place and sprig/plug St Augustine through it and then apply the preemergence control next spring?
wdrake – posted 27 November 2001 06:13
John;I agree with you. Dollar Weed looks better. That’s why I am cultivating my crop and trying to kill the crab grass.
Bill Drake(Downtown) Niceville, FL
John brinkman – posted 27 November 2001 22:21
Are you planning on going the rye grass route this winter?
This will be my second winter here but my cousin swear by it, says it keeps him from beating his kids in the winter <g>
My lawn did go really dorment and brown last winter, but it was also a really cold winter, and this one is starting much more mild. Great weather today. I planted Pansies.
John(near Redwood and Valp)Niceville, Fl