Quak Grass???

[joe_stack20]

I am starting to see the signs of quak grass in my yard....this isnt making me very happy...and this heat and not mowing the yard....only seems to improve the growth of this type of grass...is there anything i can do to treat this before it gets out of control...my goal is to have the nicest looking lawn in the neighborhood....and this is dwindling my goal. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you

[troutstix]

Hello Joe,

First you want to make sure that the grass you are seeing is in fact quack grass. Quack is a perennial, and should have been present all spring (as soon as the snow melts). There is nothing that kills quack that will not kill your grass. Quack grows faster than the grass, and grows as a single blade, instead of a clump. You also cannot pull it out because of it's large runner roots (it will break). It also has a nice round stem.

Crabrass is just starting to become visible (at least in the last 2-3 weeks). It grows in a clump, and has a flat stem. When crabgrass is young it is light green and grows upright, as it matures it starts to lay flat turning a dark green with purple highlights low on the stem. When the ground is moist, it pulls very easily. There are liquid sprays that you can use on crabgrass that will not hurt your grass, although the easiest control is in the spring with a preventer after your first mowing. Good Luck!! If you do have quack, I can give you some tips on some control (it is a bit tedious)!

[harvey lee]

If you do have quack,you can buy some round up and touch each plant.It takes time but you will get rid of it.Be very careful that you touch nothing else as it WILL kill what it touches.

[joe_stack20]

Thanks for all of your help guys...I was told by my neighbor lady )who was the wife of a farmer for many years) that it was quack grass. but i am not so sure that it is...it grows in more of a clump..and has become more visible in the past weeks. I will see what i can do!

[Powerstroke]

People very frequently confuse quack and crab grasses cause they've never learned the difference. They know that neither is desireable in a lawn and thats about it.

The responses you've received are true. If its quack, then you need round-up. If it is crab, then there are some post-emergent products out there that work really well. Round-up will work here also, but you could use a different product that may not cause damage to the rest of your lawn.

[waskawood]

What are some good post emergence crab grass products? Thanks for the help.

[harvey lee]

For crab grass,I use a fertilizer with pre emergence crab grass controller in it.I apply it in the spring and the time frame is when the lilacs start to blossom.This has worked very well for me.I dont know the brand name as I buy it made from a local fert. plant.

[LwnmwnMan2]

For post-emergence of crabgrass, look up "Drive75". Best stuff on the market.

[Powerstroke]

I agree with lwn. The Drive is the only post-emerg. product I've ever used cause its always done the job. Lesco carries it. Its not cheap, but it can pay for itself if you're crazy about your lawn.

Harvey is correct, the best way to "prevent" is with the PRE-emergent treatment in the spring. This will take care of more than 90% of the crabgrass.

[LwnmwnMan2]

For pre-emergent, use Dimension. It has both pre, and SOME post emergent control of crabgrass, but only if you get it on the crabgrass before it's 3" tall.

It's what I use on my commercial properties in the spring, since the areas around sidewalks, along buildings, and parking lots / drives heat up before the rest of the property, therefore you have a greater chance of some already sprouting in those areas.