When weeds like nutsedge and crabgrass pop up on your lawn, it can be hard to tell them apart—but because different weeds respond to different treatments, it’s important to get it right.
Crabgrass is an annual weed that usually shows up in late spring and early summer and is capable of thriving even in nutrient-depleted soil. When it first emerges, crabgrass looks like tiny corn plants but eventually grows in dense clumps of thick, hairy blades. Shoots emerging sideways from the clumps look like crab legs, giving the plant its name.
Nutsedge is a perennial that favors moist soil, although, once established, they can thrive even in drier areas. While the weed can grow in clumps, they are not as large. Nutsedge can also be distinguished from crabgrass by the colorful seedheads.