Every beautiful lawn needs a crabgrass preventer. In fact, it’s one of the first rules of lawn care. But if you apply a crabgrass preventer too early, you’ll be asking for trouble. If your neighbor’s lawn care company comes out and puts down their application at the beginning of March, here’s why your neighbor will be fighting crabgrass all year, while you’re enjoying a beautiful lawn.

Crabgrass Preventers Are All About Timing

Crabgrass preventers don’t use a calendar. But we hear from people all of the time who say, “If you don’t start my lawn care program and get my crabgrass preventer down by April 30, my neighbors say I’ll get crabgrass!”

The truth is, crabgrass germinates based on soil temperatures, not by the calendar. According to researchers at the Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, crabgrass begins to germinate when average daily soil temperatures reach 57 to 64 degrees fahrenheit. Due to the late start of spring, only recently have we even begun to experience air temperatures that warm, let alone soil temperatures reaching that level.

The fact is, the middle of May provides the perfect opportunity to get crabgrass pre-emergent down to control crabgrass. Grassmaster Plus uses Dimension, which is the best crabgrass pre-emergent in the industry, providing great control before and shortly after any germination.

Put Down Crabgrass Preventer When You See Flowering Plants

Perhaps an easier way to determine if it’s time for your crabgrass preventer is by paying attention to your flowering plants. If you don’t want to measure your soil temperature every day to see if it’s ready, be on the lookout for flowering trees and shrubs. If they’re beginning to bloom, it’s time to get your crabgrass preventer down. Often, when soil temperatures begin to rise to adequate levels for crabgrass to germinate, flowering trees such as pears are in full blossom.

According to Purdue University researchers, forsythia shrubs also provide a good estimate of when to apply crabgrass preventer. Forsythia will be in full bloom prior to crabgrass germination. Many professional turf managers use this plant as a sign to begin applying pre-emergent crabgrass preventer.

Certified, Trained Lawn Care Professionals

Knowing when to apply crabgrass pre-emergent is just one of the many questions we receive on a daily basis at Grassmaster Plus. Our certified, trained lawn care specialists are here to answer all the questions you have, and will work with you to help you get the best looking lawn on your block. Grassmaster Plus prides itself on things like:

• Communicating with you
• Making you aware of your lawn’s overall health
• Providing valuable feedback and timely instructions

The Right Lawn Care Company

Having certified, trained technicians is just one of the things you need to look for when hiring a lawn care company. To learn more about our services and what we can do for you, check out our plans and pricing.