"Bob" wrote in message
...
OK, I'm a noobie homeowner and have been wrestling with crabgrass in my
backyard for 3 years now. About 75% of my backyard has healthy St.
Augustine, while the rest is a patchwork of stubborn Bermuda grass
overshadowed by very healthy bushels of crabgrass. The first couple
years,
I devoted time uprooting the crabgrass, which seemed to be a waste of time
because it just grew back, and it also created divots in my soil, which
made
mowing a pain in the neck. For one year, I tried Scott's fertilizer (weed
n' feed) to eradicate the crabgrass and promote St. Augustine growth, but
it
appeared to breath life into the Bermuda more than anything else.

This year, I plan to resort to a new method - "The Touch of Death".
Here's
the idea: a bucket o' Roundup diluted to recommended strength, rubber
glove,
hand towel. I rub the blades of crabgrass with dampened towel, taking
care
not to touch the surrounding Bermuda. Roundup does its job in a day or
two
and possibly kills or at least weakens surrounding Bermuda as a side
effect.
St. Augustine moves in with little to no competition.

But will the "touch of death" work? I'd like to hear what the green
thumbs
have to say. Thanks.

-Bob



There are commercial ag products with a similar approach - a 3 foot tube
filled with ROundup and some fabric strips on the bottom. The Roundup soaks
down into the fabric and you just wipe weeds as you walk the field.