North Carolina Crabgrass
Crabgrass is one of the most familiar and invasive weeds that can infest North Carolina lawns. This hardy growth can easily take over your turf, pushing out healthy grass.
If crabgrass has invaded your lawn, getting rid of it should be a priority. If your lawn is crabgrass-free, it’s important to keep it that way. The right pre- and post-emergent treatments make all the difference, and Barefoot Lawn Care can help.
What Is Crabgrass & Why Is It So Hard To Control?
Crabgrass is a summer annual weed that thrives in the heat, sun and sandy soils common in eastern North Carolina. Two types of crabgrass—large crabgrass (digitaria sanguinalis) and smooth crabgrass (digitaria ischaemum) predominate in the state.
As a low-growing weed with strong roots, crabgrass can easily smother healthy grass, and North Carolina’s long growing season gives it ample time to thrive. A single crabgrass plant can spread countless seeds during its lifetime, infesting your lawn with new growths the next season.
Crabgrass usually begins to germinate in the spring (March – May). Once the weed takes hold, it’s difficult to eradicate, and improper mowing heights, fertilization and irrigation all contribute to growth. Trust Barefoot to deliver the right solutions at the right time to effectively eliminate this widespread yard pest.
How To Get Rid of Crabgrass
Barefoot Lawn Care’s specialists assess each yard’s crabgrass growth uniquely to determine the best process for lasting control.
Pre-Emergent Crabgrass Control
Pre-emergent crabgrass treatment usually occurs in late winter and early spring. We’ll work to create a barrier that stops crabgrass seeds from germinating and spreading. We’ll also incorporate proper mowing, fertilization, aeration and other maintenance practices to create a healthy, weed-proof lawn that is less at risk of unhealthy growth.
Post-Emergent Crabgrass Solutions
Even if crabgrass is already in your yard, we know how to treat and remove it. We only use lawn-safe products that destroy the weeds while preserving the surrounding turf. We recommend following your post-emergent crabgrass treatment with ongoing preventive care, proper mowing and strong fertilization, and we can create a lawn treatment plan to prevent regrowth.
The Barefoot Lawn Care Difference
With decades of experience in eastern North Carolina, Barefoot Lawn Care has the know-how to hit crabgrass when and where it matters.
Our customized weed control programs are designed to be specific for your lawn, and we have the flexibility to keep up with your turf’s changing needs from season to season and year to year. There’s a reason customers from Raleigh to Wilmington trust us to deliver professional services, transparent communication and complete satisfaction with every job.
Professional Crabgrass Removal Near You
Crabgrass can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Barefoot Lawn Care knows how to deliver the right applications at the right time to destroy and prevent bad growth, developing thriving spaces.
Contact us today and kick weeds to the curb for good.
Crabgrass FAQs
Why is it called crabgrass?
With its long, creeping blades radiating from the central stalk, Crabgrass probably got its name due to its similarities to the crustacean.
What types of crabgrass are there in North Carolina?
Two of North Carolina’s most common types of crabgrass are:
- Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis): As its name suggests, large crabgrass is usually the larger of the two types of crabgrass. It tends to have more blades (spikes), and the blades tend to be larger than those on smooth crabgrass. It also tends to have very fine, hair-like growths on the blades, which is why many people also call it “hairy crabgrass.”
- Smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum): Smooth crabgrass has less hair growth on it than larger crabgrass, although it is not hair-free. Unsurprisingly, its leaves and stalks are usually smaller than those on large crabgrass. However, it is just as hardy as its larger counterpart.
Why is crabgrass so prominent in North Carolina lawns?
Eastern North Carolina has a warm, humid climate and sandy soils that are perfect for crabgrass growth. The long growing season allows more opportunities for crabgrass to reseed and re-grow year after year.
What does crabgrass look like?
Crabgrass can resemble normal grass but usually has coarser blades radiating from a central stem. It’s a low-growing plant that can kill healthy grass and make your lawn look patchy.
How do I kill crabgrass?
Crabgrass can usually be removed with thorough weeding and herbicide application. Having professional crabgrass removal is best because your lawn care expert will know how to destroy harmful growth and protect existing grass.
How can I prevent crabgrass in my lawn?
A strong lawn-maintenance program and pre-emergent treatments can prevent crabgrass seed germination. By protecting and strengthening existing grass while reducing new growth risks, we create conditions where crabgrass can’t thrive, but good grass can.
When should I apply pre-emergent herbicides for crabgrass?
The best time for pre-emergent crabgrass treatment in North Carolina is late winter or early spring, but timing can vary. Barefoot Lawn Care’s experts adapt our treatment plans to varying conditions, ensuring we apply the right crabgrass treatment at the right time.
When should I apply post-emergent treatments for crabgrass?
Post-emergent crabgrass treatments occur in summer, after growth begins. You’ll want to take care of these treatments before the growth has time to reseed for the next year. However, ongoing maintenance and post-emergent treatments can help further prevent new growth.
How much does crabgrass treatment cost?
Our crabgrass treatment plans vary based on your lawn care needs. Barefoot’s affordable seasonal programs are designed to be cost-effective and deliver robust solutions without waste. The best way to get a good picture of what we can do for your lawn is to request a free estimate from our team.