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Time crabgrass prevention carefully
For many Kansans, trying to prevent crabgrass is a yearly game of chance. "The problem is how much the state's weather can vary from year to year. To work, all but one of the crabgrass preventer products need to be on the lawn before spring weather signals the crabgrass seed to germinate. But, these products will begin to break down soon after they're applied. Most will be ineffective in 60 days, so timing's vital," said Ward Upham, Kansas State University Research and Extension horticulturist. On average, southeast Kansans can apply crabgrass preventer successfully about April 1, Upham said. Those in the northwest can wait until May 1, and everyone else can use April 15 as their target. "Because of the weather, though, many people base their timing on the bloom of ornamental plants. The Eastern redbud tree is a good choice. When your area's trees are approaching full-bloom, apply crabgrass preventer. Then apply a follow-up about 8 weeks later, unless you're using Dimension or Barricade," he said. Dimension (dithiopyr) and Barricade (prodiamine) are preventers usually sold mixed with lawn fertilizer. They're the only products that can give season-long crabgrass control from a single application. In fact, Barricade can still be effective if applied the previous fall, Upham said. The earliest date to apply Dimension is usually March 1. But Dimension also is the herbicide of choice for busy lawn care companies and lawn owners who must apply preventer as late as May or early June. "Dimension is a pre-emergence herbicide, as the other preventers are. But, you can apply it later, because it also can kill young crabgrass up to its two- to three-leaf stage," Upham explained. Another plus is that Dimension is "kind" to tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass seedlings as young as two weeks old. "Normally you shouldn't apply a pre-emergence herbicide to recently planted turf until the seedlings have grown enough to need mowing two to three times," the horticulturist warned. Crabgrass preventers are a prime example of why reading labels carefully can be important not only to personal and environmental safety, Upham said, but also to the well-being of the plant itself. Date: 9/21/07
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