This ? is for Phil

frenchman – posted 15 June 2002 20:12

I want to know if there is anything out there yet that will kill crabgrass or creeping bermuda on golf course greens? I’ve been told that there is nothing developed yet. Hoping that you or someone will know this answer. Thanks

tdkx – posted 12 July 2002 16:16

Hi There Frenchman, You must be in my business if you are worried about golf course greens. This is what I do for a living. You want crabgras out of your greens? You have to consider many factors and you have to have your timing just right. First of all, how did you let crabgrass into your greens? I can see clover..kind of. You can’t control crabgrass once it is established for the growing season. You could and should pull out what you have on any greens right now. It can’t look nice at all. Patch up the holes with a soil seed mixture for now and let the greens grass try to fill in. You need to look towards next year. Make it a priority to get a pre-emergent herbicide such as “BARRICADE” and use that on your greens.(Barricade can burn certain types of grass so read the label first) Also, buy a soil temperature thermometer and use it early in the spring. Chipco makes a nice model that probably won’t cost much. Crabgrass starts to germinate when the soil temp hits 55F. Be careful here though as surface soil temps will often hit 55F and above during the day when the sun hits the surface. The key is to spread your pre-em when the soil temps starts to stay above 55F for more than 24 hours in a row. That’s your key to apply. There are a lot of products out there for you to choose from. I’m sure they are great products, but it is all in the timing. Make sure to read the label as you will have to reapply whatever product you choose.(critical to time it right) Crabgrass is an annual plant. I’m not sure if creeping bermuda is an annual or not but if it is an annual, you should pursue it’s control in the same fashion I have described. Find out about what the weed plant/grass likes and then take it away from it if you can. Hope that helps you.

tdkx