AboutLong Island Gardener Expertise How to grow the Perfect Lawn? If you live in the Northeast/Atlantic Coast, I have intelligent answers on grass selection, fertilizers, soil care, weed control, and lawnmowers. Although I have degrees in related fields, a person's real gardening skills are learned from trial and error. More important, I am strict about not using chemicals in the garden. Organic gardening is not just earth friendly and healthier for you, your children and your pets. It's less expensive and easier. You read that right. Less expensive and easier.
Experience Homeowner for 15 years, 30 years of gardening for personal pleasure, college credits in horticulture and botany, volunteer docent at the local botanical gardens, and a whole library of gardening and landscaping books at home some 100 years old.
Question We have crab grass coming up through our sod that we laid about a month ago. Any tips on how to kill it and save the sod? Thanks!
Answer Your Crabgrass is probably an Annual plant. One of the hazards of tilling Soil before you sow Grass Seed or roll out Sod is that you bring to the surface dormant Weed seeds that lay dormant, waiting to sprout. My guess is this Crabgrass got just the zing it needed to jump out of bed and start growing. But if it's only going to live a year -- or, if you're in Cool Season Grass country, for a few months more, who cares?
Just be careful of one thing. And be VERY careful. DO NOT LET IT FLOWER. DO NOT LET IT SET SEED.
There are other methods, depending on the Grass you have and where you live. But if all you have to worry about is Annual Crabgrass, this is no problem. And if you REALLY hate the way it looks, pull it out. That works beautifully. It just won't make certain megacorporations any money if you do it that way. But it's the best system. Don't forget to compost the carcass.
Now if you have OTHER Weeds to worry about, please let me know. There's more to discuss.
