Expert: Jonathan Radford - 7/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: My Monkey Grass Border has crabgrass(I think) in it.  What can I use to get rid of the crabgrass, but not the Monkey Grass?

ANSWER: Hi Rayma

Ok, this is gonna be a long but not particularly hard task to get rid of your crab grass.

These two grasses have very similar root systems and their roots tend to tangle up - making the crabgrass impossible to get rid of manually.

Therefore, you'll need to take some glyphosate based weedkiller ('Round up') and , with a paintbrush carefully paint the weedkiller solution on the blades of the crab grass. That's the only way, unfortunately.

Make the round up solution twice the strength they tell you to on the pack to kill the crab grass more effectively.

Regards

Jonathan Radford, www.eclogicagardens.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the info.  The crabgrass is dying.  Should I cut it off at the ground--or just let it stay there???  It is rather unsightly, but I don't won't to cut it off before it has killed the roots.  Thanks again.

Answer
Hi Rayma

Glad to hear that the crabgrass is dying off at last!

Generally, after just one day the glyphosate is absorbed and the hormonal stimulant kicks in. This means that the plant begins to grow way too fast and ultimately dies of starvation, thirst and fatigue. therefore, the roots will have already absorbed the product if the leaves show signs of yellowing.

Good luck and thanks for the positive ratings - they help us stay at N°1

Jonathan www.ecologicagardens.com