Finding The Right Time To Tackle Crabgrass CRABGRASS SEED GERMINATION DATES Approximate Date GE After May 30 After March 20 After May 10 Cy After April 20 L January 1 to March 20 Applying a crabgrass preventer at the proper time of the year can result in lush, green lawns. Call 1-800-987-0467 for further information. (NAPS)—‘Timing is every- as four weeks after. This 12-week cially true when youare trying to rid your lawn of pesky crabgrass. greaterflexibility for homeowners, thing.” This age-old adageis espeThe best time to beat the tena- cious weedis just before it germi- nates. Because crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures reach 55F, the proper time to use a crabgrass preventer could be as early as late winter or early spring (January through the beginning of March) in the deep south. Crabgrass germination periods migrate north as the year progresses, and may even be delayed until late April or May in long application window means enabling them to treat already germinated weeds that other herbicides may miss. Here are a few more tips home- ownerscanuse to beat crabgrass: Set mower blade height to aboutthree inches, a height which prevents weedsfrom sprouting. Keep blades sharp and mow frequently. elf there is little or no rain, thoroughly water the lawn at least once a week. Spread extra seed to cover northern climates. Then, remember that soil temperatures warm bare spots in the late summeror slopes than they do when the before the following spring. Dandelions may mean the up faster on sunny southern early fall so young grass shoots have plenty of time to develop lawn is shaded or on slopes facing north. By planning ahead, home- grass is too short or that there is owners can beat this unsightly weed that chokes out healthy grass and leaves bare patches in the fall. A popular crabgrass preventer, DIMENSION, has been formulated with fertilizers to work on crab- too little fertilizer or that the lawn has been watered too much. Save time with fertilizer products formulated with DIMENSION crabgrass preventer, whichfertil- izes while preventing weeds at the same time. The non-staining grass and 25 other weed species DIMENSION formula does not turing the lawn and being safe to most turfgrasses and landscape flowers, trees and shrubs. Rohm and Haas Company, 100 for up to five months, while nur- Fertilizers formulated with DIMENSION crabgrass preventer can be applied up to eight weeks before germination and as many require more than onetreatment. For more information, write to Dimension Crabgrass Preventer, Independence Mall West, Phil- adelphia, PA 19106, or call 1-800- 987-0467, or visit the Web site at www.crabgrass.com.
