My lawn went from less than 10% St. Augustine to over 80% in just a few
years with only occasional watering and regular mowing. It overcame
everything but crabgrass, which came in a couple years ago when there
was a total ban on watering in Pflugerville. The crabgrass is very
thick, thicker even than the St. Augustine. They've battled each other
to a standstill. Is there something I can use to knock back the
crabgrass and give the St. Augustine a chance to move in? I read about
using pre-emergents but it's too late for that now. Anything else?

thanks,
--steve

Steve Ravet wrote in message ...
My lawn went from less than 10% St. Augustine to over 80% in just a few
years with only occasional watering and regular mowing. It overcame
everything but crabgrass, which came in a couple years ago when there
was a total ban on watering in Pflugerville. The crabgrass is very
thick, thicker even than the St. Augustine. They've battled each other
to a standstill. Is there something I can use to knock back the
crabgrass and give the St. Augustine a chance to move in? I read about
using pre-emergents but it's too late for that now. Anything else?

thanks,
--steve

Asulox was labeled for postemergence control in St. Augustine grass
turf. A single application at 5 pints per acre was recommended for
crabgrass control in St. Augustine grass. It worked, but Asulox is no
longer available for crabgrass control. It was universally used for
that purpose and since its withdrawal from the marketplace no
substitute has been made available.

Summer control of crabgrass is done by hand weeding or with a
herbicide that kills both the crabgrass and the desired plants. Most
species of crabgrass are annuals, and are killed by winter's cold.
Crabgrass is best controlled in late February or March by application
of a pre-emergence herbicide. These herbicides claim to work, but I
have had no success with them.

This leaves hand weeding of crabgrass and planting St. Augustine
plugs.

"Steve Ravet" wrote in message
...
My lawn went from less than 10% St. Augustine to over 80% in just a few
years with only occasional watering and regular mowing. It overcame
everything but crabgrass, which came in a couple years ago when there
was a total ban on watering in Pflugerville. The crabgrass is very
thick, thicker even than the St. Augustine. They've battled each other
to a standstill. Is there something I can use to knock back the
crabgrass and give the St. Augustine a chance to move in? I read about
using pre-emergents but it's too late for that now. Anything else?

You've run into the biggest problem with St. Augustine. The best way to
take care of it is to apply pre-emergence products in Jan-Feb. If we have a
warm winter and the crabgrass doesn't die in the winter (crabgrass is an
annual) you can use round-up and as long as your St. Augustine is dormant
and not green, it won't harm it. You can also hit it with round-up now. It
will kill the surrounding St. Augustine. 1 week later put a plug of St.
Augustine in the middle of the sprayed area.

A product called Image will kill crabgrass in the summer. I've never had
St. Augustine so I don't know how harmful the stuff is to St. Augustine, but
the label says it's OK. It's quite expensive. A small bottle will run you
almost $30 and will only make a few gallons. I would use it in a test area
to see how it affects your grass.

If chemicals don't work, keep the crabgrass mowed short at all times.
Crabgrass grows faster than grass. When you mow it, the crabgrass has to
use energy stored in it's roots to recover. So if you are constantly
keeping it mowed down, it will have a harder time than the St. Augustine
will. Also it has to get taller to put out seed which will cause problems
next year.

You've run into the biggest problem with St. Augustine. The best way to
take care of it is to apply pre-emergence products in Jan-Feb. If we have a
warm winter and the crabgrass doesn't die in the winter (crabgrass is an
annual) you can use round-up and as long as your St. Augustine is dormant
and not green, it won't harm it. You can also hit it with round-up now. It
will kill the surrounding St. Augustine. 1 week later put a plug of St.
Augustine in the middle of the sprayed area.

A product called Image will kill crabgrass in the summer. I've never had
St. Augustine so I don't know how harmful the stuff is to St. Augustine, but
the label says it's OK. It's quite expensive. A small bottle will run you
almost $30 and will only make a few gallons. I would use it in a test area
to see how it affects your grass.

If chemicals don't work, keep the crabgrass mowed short at all times.
Crabgrass grows faster than grass. When you mow it, the crabgrass has to
use energy stored in it's roots to recover. So if you are constantly
keeping it mowed down, it will have a harder time than the St. Augustine
will. Also it has to get taller to put out seed which will cause problems
next year.

Thanks for the product tip Roy, maybe Image will do the job.

http://www.pestproducts.com/herbicides/image.htm#Summer

"Garry Denke" wrote in message
m...
You've run into the biggest problem with St. Augustine. The best way to
take care of it is to apply pre-emergence products in Jan-Feb. If we
have a
warm winter and the crabgrass doesn't die in the winter (crabgrass is an
annual) you can use round-up and as long as your St. Augustine is
dormant
and not green, it won't harm it. You can also hit it with round-up now.
It
will kill the surrounding St. Augustine. 1 week later put a plug of St.
Augustine in the middle of the sprayed area.

A product called Image will kill crabgrass in the summer. I've never
had
St. Augustine so I don't know how harmful the stuff is to St. Augustine,
but
the label says it's OK. It's quite expensive. A small bottle will run
you
almost $30 and will only make a few gallons. I would use it in a test
area
to see how it affects your grass.

If chemicals don't work, keep the crabgrass mowed short at all times.
Crabgrass grows faster than grass. When you mow it, the crabgrass has
to
use energy stored in it's roots to recover. So if you are constantly
keeping it mowed down, it will have a harder time than the St. Augustine
will. Also it has to get taller to put out seed which will cause
problems
next year.

Thanks for the product tip Roy, maybe Image will do the job.

http://www.pestproducts.com/herbicides/image.htm#Summer

Just remember Image takes a LONG time to work. You won't notice any
difference for 1-2 weeks, and it might take 3-4 weeks before it kills the
crabgrass. Be patient when using it.

Thanks for the product tip Roy, maybe Image will do the job.

http://www.pestproducts.com/herbicides/image.htm#Summer

Just remember Image takes a LONG time to work. You won't notice any
difference for 1-2 weeks, and it might take 3-4 weeks before it kills the
crabgrass. Be patient when using it.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the product tip Roy, maybe Image will do the job.

http://www.pestproducts.com/herbicides/image.htm#Summer

Just remember Image takes a LONG time to work. You won't notice any
difference for 1-2 weeks, and it might take 3-4 weeks before it kills the
crabgrass. Be patient when using it.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the product tip Roy, maybe Image will do the job.

http://www.pestproducts.com/herbicides/image.htm#Summer

Just remember Image takes a LONG time to work. You won't notice any
difference for 1-2 weeks, and it might take 3-4 weeks before it kills the
crabgrass. Be patient when using it.

Thanks again.