There are many weeds in Michigan than can take over your turf, but nothing is as problematic as crabgrass. This is an invasive weed that you can combat with pre-emergent weed control. Pre-emergent weed control is a type of weed control that works by creating a protective barrier on your soil that prevents weeds from breaking through so they can't establish themselves in your lawn.

The best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides is in the early spring before crabgrass germinates. This way, the chemicals have time to create a protective barrier on the soil to prevent crabgrass from breaking through. If you see any crabgrass weeds growing on your lawn even after you apply pre-emergent weed control, you can use a post-emergent treatment to get rid of them. Keep reading to learn more about why pre-emergent weed control is your best choice for preventing crabgrass from taking over your turf.

How does pre-emergent weed control work?

Professional applying pre-emergent weed control to lawn in Clinton Township, MI.

Pre-emergent weed control is an effective form of weed control that is designed to stop weeds from sprouting through your soil. It works by creating a protective barrier on top of your soil that weeds can't penetrate. When a weed seed that's in your soil starts to germinate, it will grow upwards and come into contact with this barrier. Because it's not strong enough to penetrate the barrier, it will be stuck underground where it won't be able to access sunlight and the other resources that it needs to grow, so it will end up dying.

Because crabgrass is such a stubborn weed, it can be very difficult to get rid of once it establishes itself in your lawn. That's why the best way to deal with it is through pre-emergent weed control treatments. Because these treatments will stop it from sprouting, it will never get the chance to take over your lawn.

Pre-emergent weed control treatments not only target crabgrass but other weeds, too, like spurge and creeping Charlie.

When is the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control treatments?

Proper timing is essential if you want your pre-emergent weed control treatment to work effectively at combatting crabgrass. Early spring is the best time of the year to apply pre-emergent herbicides. Because pre-emergent weed killers target weeds before they emerge, they should be applied before crabgrass starts germinating. Crabgrass starts growing actively when the soil temperature reaches around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is around late spring. Applying pre-emergent weed control in the early spring gives the treatment enough time to make its way into the soil so it will be effective when crabgrass starts germinating.

What You Should Do if You Spot Crabgrass Weeds on Your Lawn

Crabgrass spotted in client's lawn in Mount Clemens, MI.

Crabgrass is not only fast-growing and invasive but is also relentless. While a pre-emergent weed control treatment should stop most crabgrass weeds from sprouting, some weeds might slip through. This can happen when the crabgrass was already in the late stages of germination when the pre-emergent treatment was applied. If you see crabgrass weeds growing on your lawn, a post-emergent weed control treatment will help eliminate them from your lawn. However, because this weed is so stubborn, it could take multiple post-emergent treatments to get rid of it.

Get ahead of crabgrass with pre-emergent weed control treatments. Call us today to schedule!

Your lawn is no place for crabgrass or any other weed. If you want to keep your lawn free from invasive weeds, let our team help. At Big Lakes Lawncare, we offer top-quality weed control treatments to residential properties in Macomb, Shelby, Chesterfield, Troy, Sterling Heights, MI and nearby areas. Our professionals use pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments so that we can eliminate crabgrass and other invasive weeds from your lawn. Call us today at (586) 200-0855 to schedule our weed control treatments.