Garden News
with Advanced Master Gardener
Steve Kruse
Many of our lawns have been overcome with weeds. The predominant weed this season is crabgrass. Why is the crabgrass there and what can we do to eliminate the weed from our lawns? The record rainfall we had in late spring and early summer has caused the spring applied crabgrass preventer to breakdown and along with the high temperatures our bluegrass lawns have slowed in growth. All this has allowed the crabgrass to grow and grow. Before we attempt to kill the crabgrass we should understand it growing cycle.
First of all the crabgrass plant is an annual weed. This means the plant will die by the end of September. Before the plant dies it will make many seeds which will germinate late next spring. Most homeowners will apply a crabgrass preventer in spring to keep the seeds from germinating. The product applied in the spring is called a pre-emergent herbicide. Once the crabgrass seed germinates we must use a post-emergent herbicide. This post-emergent product is applied as a spray and can control small seedlings as well as mature plants. The new product to control crabgrass at this time of year is “Quinchlorac.” This chemical is sold under many names and many different strengths. The most popular in the landscape industry is called DISMISS. This product will treat up to 35,000 square feet. There is product available that will cover smaller areas as well. DISMISS will control the crabgrass quicker than most other products and is safer for our desirable turf.
If you have crabgrass invading your lawn stop by and check out our line of new products. We have used this product on many lawns with great success. If you decide not to apply a product to your lawn this month be sure to use a crabgrass preventer next spring.
Summer and July have arrived. To some that means hot weather, swimming and cookouts, and to others it means fireworks, Bristol Homecoming, and the county fair. To me it means Japanese beetles. The beetles are out and most places they are in large populations. The adult beetle will eat and damage many landscape plants. The second, and to some the largest problem with the Japanese beetle is the white grubs. While the beetles are eating our landscape plants they lay thousands of eggs which will hatch later in summer and fall. When the eggs hatch the larvae, white grubs, will eat the roots of our turf grass. The damage in the lawn can be huge. There are several steps we can take to limit the damage to our plants and turf.
To control the adult beetles from damaging our landscape plants spray with an insecticide. Fertilome Carbaryl is a great product. This product will kill the beetles, along with other damaging insects, while being very safe on all plants. This product can be used on flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetables. By spraying the plants and killing the beetles we also are limiting the damage to the plant and also reducing the number of eggs, white grubs, in our turf. Carbaryl is the most widely used product but most any insecticide labeled safe for plants will kill the adult beetle. Be sure to read the label or ask about the product at your local garden center.
Hi-Yield Kill A Grub is a earth friendly product. The term “green” fits this product very well. Not only is it safe to mammals it will not kill any insects other than grubs or caterpillars. This product is less toxic to mammals than table salt. While this is not an organic or natural product, I feel it can be used without fear of damage to our water table, children, pets, and the environment. As with any product, read and follow all label directions.
To control the damage in the turf from the hatching eggs and their larvae now is the time to apply Hi-Yield Kill A Grub to the turf. This product is a systemic product. That means when applied to the lawn and watered in the plant will absorb the material through the roots. The product will remain active in the plant for 90 days. When the beetle larvae hatch they will feed on the grass roots, which contain the Kill A Grub, and ingest the chemical and die. If the material is not applied the larvae will eat, grow, and kill large areas in the turf. It can take lots of dollars and time to repair the damage from the larvae. If you see many beetles in your landscape be sure to apply Kill A Grub now. July is the best time to apply this product.
