Why Are Crabgrass and Dandelions Taking Over Your Lawn?

Spring is here, in full color! The flowers and trees are blooming. Unfortunately, so are the dandelions and crabgrass. Chances are good they’re out in your yard right now. These weeds are a huge annoyance to many homeowners working for a perfect lawn. And no matter how often you pull them out, they just keep coming back. 

Don’t worry, we’ve got some tips for getting rid of these prevalent weeds and keeping them gone. But before we talk about prevention, let’s look at how these weeds spread so quickly in the first place.

How crabgrass and dandelions spread

Crabgrass is an annual grass that crowds out the turf grass in your lawn. It is yellow-green with coarse blades, and it tends to grow out, rather than up like turf grass. Seeds form on its stems which remain low to the ground, about ½ inch high, so they escape most mower blades. In the late summer, the seeds drop, and new growths branch outward. 

Though the first frost generally kills crabgrass, the seeds lay dormant until warmer soil temperatures activate them. A single plant can create up to 150,000 seeds in a single season, making it very difficult to contain. The worst part about this weed is that it looks awful. In a smooth blanket of dark green grass, crabgrass looks like splotchy stains. 

The other yard pest, dandelions, also spread like crazy. Dandelion is a yellow perennial flower with a hollow stem, jagged leaves, and a deep taproot. Towards the end of summer, the flower head dries out and turns into white puffballs of seeds. Each seed has little fibers that the wind carries hundreds of yards, and when those seeds find soil, they remain dormant until temperatures rise the next year, and up come more dandelions. 

Both crabgrass and dandelions are so prevalent because of their unique ability to spread. To stop the spread and eliminate the weeds, there are a couple of things you can do. 

Treat existing weeds

Dandelions are notoriously hard to get rid of. You can try pulling with your hands or a tool, but pieces of the taproot always remain, and the weed grows back. The same goes for crabgrass which deposits so many seeds that even when you pull the mature grass, the seeds grow into new grass. 

To take care of existing weeds, you need post-emergent herbicide treatments. Whatever product you choose, follow its instructions carefully. In most cases, you’ll want to apply the herbicide on a sunny day between 60-90 degrees. Check the forecast. If it rains too soon after application, the product can be washed away or diluted, affecting the results of the treatment. After spraying the area, keep an eye on it for a few days. If you see new growth, you’ll want to spot treat that specific area again. 

Prevent future weeds

To prevent future weeds from taking root, it’s important to keep the seeds from germinating. The best way to do that is by having a thick, healthy lawn that protects the soil from seeds and weeds. As another protective layer, you can also leave the grass clippings on your freshly mowed lawn. The clippings act as another layer of protection. 

Also, if you’re mowing regularly, dandelions won’t have a chance to spread their seeds. Even though the existing flowers will grow back, you will at least have stopped them from casting seeds for the season. 

This strategy won’t stop crabgrass. So to prevent both dandelions and crabgrass, use a pre-emergent herbicide. Pre-emergent herbicide stops the seeds of dandelions, crabgrass, and other weeds from germinating. You’ll want to apply the herbicide before the weeds begin to grow, as early as late winter (once the snow has melted) to early spring. Always read the directions carefully, as they may vary between products. 
If after trying these techniques the crabgrass and dandelions continue to pop up, check out our lawn care packages or contact us. We would love to find the right treatment to keep your lawn looking spectacular all year round!