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Crabgrass
Life cycle: Annual. Begins to emerge in late April or early May (about the time lilacs bloom).
Leaves: Seedlings pale green, wide leaf. Small hairs on upper and lower sides of leaves. Membranous ligule at leaf base.
Stems: Plants branch freely. Small hairs on stems.
Flowers: Finger-like seed head.
Roots: Roots are frequently formed at lower nodes.
Comments: Warm season grass.
Control
Cultural: Keep grass competitive by setting mowing height to at least 2.5 to 3 inches, seed turf grasses into thin areas, fertilize in the fall or use weed and feed in the spring, irrigate deep and infrequently in the summer, remove clippings containing crabgrass seed.
Foliar Herbicides: Several products marketed as crabgrass killers that contain MSMA (monosodium acid methanearsonate), DSMA (disodium acid methanearsonate), or CaMA (calcium acid methanearsonate) which are intended for use on crabgrass seedlings before they grow tillers. Late-season control may be obtained with quinclorac (Drive). In landscapes, may use fenoxaprop (Acclaim) or fluazifop (Grass-B-Gone) around broadleaf plant species.
Soil Herbicides: Soil applied herbicides are preferred. Many herbicides sold as crabgrass preventers that may contain pendimethalin (Pendulum), dithiopyr (Dimension Ultra), benefin (Balan), bensulide (Betasan), oxadiazon (Ronstar), siduron (Tupersan). May have to follow up with a foliar herbicide to control escapes.