GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Replacing a lawn that's infested with crabgrass

Johnny Borborigmi · 27-08-2006, 10:57 PM posted to rec.gardens

On 2006-08-27 13:51:35 -0400, zxcvbob said:

wrote:
I'm about to replace a my girlfriend's lawn that's heavily infested
with crabgrass.

What's the best approach to doing this? Some of the different
suggestions I've received are as follows:

- Spray the lawn as it is (without digging it up first) with
preemergent and then cover it with a tarp for several weeks before
digging it up
- Remove the top layer of grass before spraying it
- Not spraying it at all

I guess I have two basic questions - do I really need to take off the
top layer of dead grass before spraying it and do I really need to tarp
it after spraying it? Any and all suggestions will be helpful.

Christopher

P.S. I live in Northern California if that makes a difference.

Crabgrass is an annual. Just keep it mowed this year and put up with
it. Next spring, apply a preemergent herbicide to kill the seedlings.
(I've never used a preemerge herbicide before, but I have one little
strip of lawn next to my driveway where I'm going to try it next year.)

I agree, put it down when the forsythias are in bloom. I did it this
past spring and what a difference!
I used Scott's with Halt's for crabgrass.

"Follow lable directions" as Ralph Snodsmith always says!