Crabgrass Control Horticulture Crabgrass Control Crabgrass is showing up frequently in lawns at this time. Both plants have light green foliage color and prostrate growth habit. Seedheads, which look like finger-like projections, begin appearing in late summer and continue until frost.
Individual plants have the potential to produce thousands of seeds each.
Ideally, crabgrass is controlled with preemergence herbicides in the spring, which prevents the seeds from germinating. Postemergence control is possible with MSMA or DSMA herbicides. Two applications should be applied 4 to 7 days apart. These herbicides work most effectively when applied to small, actively growing plants. If the lawn is severely infested with crabgrass, control would be easier if the lawn is totally renovated next month.