Crabgrass is a pesky weed that can overtake your lawn in Iowa. This invasive weed grows low to the ground and has coarse, light green leaves that are wider at the top than they are at the base. Crabgrass also produces small seed heads on its flowering stalks. Crabgrass begins sprouting in spring and continues growing until early fall. If you want to effectively deal with this weed, you'll need weed control. You'll want to use pre-emergent treatments to prevent new growth on your lawn and post-emergents to eliminate any existing ones. However, the best way to ensure crabgrass doesn't become problematic is to hire professionals to apply these treatments for you!

What does crabgrass look like, and when does it grow?

Crabgrass growing near sidewalk in Des Moines, IA.

Crabgrass is an annual weed that germinates in the spring and dies back during winter dormancy, only to reemerge the following year. It grows rapidly during the summer months, particularly under warm and sunny conditions. However, it can withstand periods of drought and will continue to thrive even when other grasses may struggle due to lack of moisture.

Crabgrass has light green foliage with a coarse texture and spreads through long stems that lie along the ground. The leaves are narrow, pointed, and almost parallel along the stem. This plant produces flowering clusters at the end of each stem. Each flower cluster produces numerous seeds that can spread quickly if left unattended after maturity.

Thin, patchy lawns are more susceptible to crabgrass growth, as they present more opportunities for this weed to take over.

How do you deal with crabgrass?

To keep your lawn crabgrass-free, you will need to use both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control treatments. Pre-emergent treatments create a protective barrier in the soil that prevents newly germinated crabgrass seeds from breaking through the soil surface and establishing themselves in your lawn. By utilizing this type of treatment before crabgrass emerges, you can prevent it from gaining a foothold in the first place.

Meanwhile, post-emergent herbicides target existing weeds already present on your lawn. They work by seeping into the weed's root system and eliminating it from the inside out. Using post-emergent treatments throughout the crabgrass season can help you keep crabgrass from taking over your lawn.

Hire professionals to keep crabgrass off your lawn.

If you want to deal with crabgrass effectively, hiring professionals is the way to go. Professionals have the expertise needed to handle crabgrass properly. They know what products to use and how often to administer them to achieve optimal results, saving you time and hassle trying to figure it out yourself. Moreover, they can assess any underlying issues causing your lawn to struggle against this weed and recommend appropriate corrective measures to bolster its overall health and resistance. With a professional team on your side, you can rest assured knowing that your lawn is in capable hands all season long.

Give us a call today to schedule our weed control service.

At A+ Lawn & Landscape, we offer our exceptional weed control service to residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, IA, and nearby areas. Our top-notch service is tailored to meet the unique needs of your lawn and effectively combat crabgrass and other common weeds. Not only will we keep your lawn weed-free, but this service also comes with fertilizer treatments to provide the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and vibrant.

With this program, we'll visit your property several times throughout the year to apply fertilizer, weed control, and other lawn care treatments. Call us today at (515) 289-2020 to schedule our weed control service and say goodbye to crabgrass once and for all!