Can Crabgrass Be Controlled in St. Augustinegrass?
Blanket Crabgrass growing in St. Augustinegrass
Crabrass is one of the most problematic weeds in residential and commercial landscapes. A number of years ago there was a selective herbicide available to professionals for treating Crabgrass in residential St. Augustinegrass. This product has not been available for some time now and professionals have been at a loss for a crabgrass control method.
Preemergent herbicides are applied at certain times of the year to help prevent weeds in general. But frankly, the preventive effect of these products on Crabgrass is rather limited.
What we learned is that you can apply Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) to Crabgrass and gain a degree of control of small crabgrass patches. We later learned that Baking Soda laundry detergent works even better. There is also a commercially available crabgrass control product of which Baking Soda is an active ingredient.
Preemergent herbicides are applied at certain times of the year to help prevent weeds in general. But frankly, the preventive effect of these products on Crabgrass is rather limited.
What we learned is that you can apply Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) to Crabgrass and gain a degree of control of small crabgrass patches. We later learned that Baking Soda laundry detergent works even better. There is also a commercially available crabgrass control product of which Baking Soda is an active ingredient.
Treatments with baking soda are not a professional secret and anybody can try it if they like. However, it can be difficult to apply just the right amount. The Crabgrass should be wet and the powder sprinkled lightly on top. The goal is to neither apply too much nor too little. Initially the treated area turns black, then afterwards it turns a golden color. This method is not fool proof. No Crabgrass remedy is. It works especially fast though, and you can see results right away.
Crabgrass readily invades St. Augustinegrass
Baking soda treatments can cause some injury to the turf where the product is applied. However, the St. Augustinegrass usually recovers. The Crabgrass will also likely recover. This treatment tends to burn the Crabgrass leaves, but often the roots and stems survive. For this reason it is important to limit treatments to small spots that the St. Augustinegrass can possibly grow back into.
This is not a practical method for treating large areas or for patches where St. Augustinegrass no longer exists. Usually some lawn renovation is in order to remove large Crabgrass patches. The University of Florida recommendation is to spray the crabgrass with a nonselective herbicide (such as RoundUp) and replace these areas with new sod.
Due to the extensive time that is required to locate and treat small areas of Crabgrass with Baking Soda, we do not include this treatment with our standard services. That said, we will be happy to demonstrate to you how it's done, so you can keep up with this treatment in the future. Just ask your friendly technician.
This is not a practical method for treating large areas or for patches where St. Augustinegrass no longer exists. Usually some lawn renovation is in order to remove large Crabgrass patches. The University of Florida recommendation is to spray the crabgrass with a nonselective herbicide (such as RoundUp) and replace these areas with new sod.
Due to the extensive time that is required to locate and treat small areas of Crabgrass with Baking Soda, we do not include this treatment with our standard services. That said, we will be happy to demonstrate to you how it's done, so you can keep up with this treatment in the future. Just ask your friendly technician.