Anybody with a turfgrass lawn may have battled against one stubborn adversary occasionally. Crabgrass is relentless, and it’s a grass that disrupts the smooth texture of your lawn, and if you leave it, it can overtake it. The main culprit is crabgrass, a group of weedy grasses from the Digitaria family. The main common crabgrass varieties that are highly troublesome in North America are large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum).
They are aggressive annual weed grasses that can overrun, under fertilized, and under-watered lawns. You can see why the illustration of crabgrass conjures up neglected lawns. However, even a well-tended lawn can suffer constant issues from a single crabgrass plant infestation, especially during drought or challenging weather conditions.
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Homeowners in North America battle crabgrass yearly with the right chemicals or lawn-care approach. (Learn How to Get Rid of Chickweed)
To kill or prevent crabgrass has become an industry of its own. In our reviews, you can find the best ways to kill crabgrass and which grassy weed preventer can help you regain your lawn as it used to be.
Why You Need a Good Weed Killer For Crabgrass
Crabgrass and other weeds are dangerous to your lawn’s well-being. Such weeds suck valuable moisture and nutrients from the soil and take these away from plants, grass, flowers, and vegetables. Not only does it affect your garden, but it also makes things troublesome for you. Crabgrass will make your lawn appear scraggly since this annual weed dies in the fall and thus leaves holes across your lawn.
Crabgrass is the chief nemesis of gardeners wishing to maintain a manicured lawn. Add in the disruption to seasonal flower beds and meticulous pathways. The issue with crabgrass is that even as it dies in the fall, the grass continues to produce thousands of crabgrass seeds, which are ready to germinate come spring and warmer weather. This is why it is vital first to eradicate all traces of thousands of seeds to prevent germination. (Find the Best Weed Killer That Won’t Kill Flowers)
A lawn invaded from crabgrass soon becomes destroyed if you do not take the necessary measures to repair it. The most significant issue with crabgrass is resilience. It is hard to kill, yet it can establish and dominate your lawn very easily and very quickly. Besides, it grows on thin or bare spots of turfed areas and can also crowd and spread across healthy grass.
Top Weed Killer For Crabgrass Reviews
1. Tenacity Turf Herbicide
The Tenacity turf herbicide is a selective, systemic herbicide which induces impairment of the plant’s enzymes which it uses to carry out photosynthesis of certain weed species. The Tenacity active component is mesotrione at a strength of 40 percent. The plants consume from the soil and their roots, shoots, and leaves to disperse it through the plant.
In the beginning, leaves whiten, followed by necrosis and death of the plant. Tenacity is the strongest of crabgrass preventers because of its pre-and post-emergent suppression capabilities problematic weeds. Tenacity crabgrass killer guarantees to work with more than 46 broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds species, including:
- Crabgrass,
- Ground ivy
- Yellow foxtail, yellow Nutsedge and Purslane, Thistle and others.
Once applied and consumed, it takes 2 or 3 weeks before undesirables begin whitening and dying.
Make sure to read the precise instructions, so Tenacity Turf Herbicide kills weeds while planting so your fresh grass can grow and thrive. It can also be used on existing or fresh grass seed on your turf.
Pros
- Highly effective herbicide on all weeds
- Kills crabgrass before and after it emerges
- Concentrated mixture lasts for ages
- Includes eye dropper for precise dilution
Cons
- Expensive to begin with
- Does take up to 2 weeks to see results
With a guide price of just over $65, you will find this expensive, yet it is very effective. It also comes with a long shelf life of 5 to 8 years from the manufacture date when stored in the right conditions. It is among the best crabgrass killers there is.
2. Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready to Spray – Weed Killer for Lawns, Crabgrass Killer, Also Kills Chickweed, Dandelion, Clover & More, Fast Acting Weed Killer Spray, Kills to the Root
Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer is ready to spray weed killer for Lawns. It is very effective against crabgrass and can control chickweed, dandelion, clover & More. It is fast-acting and is rainproof in one hour.
In total, you can find Ortho WeedClear can kill more than 200 varieties of broadleaf grasses, add into this; it won’t damage your lawn if you stick to the instructions. For best results, you apply during the spring and the fall when your grass is young and actively growing. To use, you connect the 32 oz. bottle to your hose and turn on the water. Once you begin, you can cover up to 5 000 square feet from the one bottle.
Pros
- Fast-acting like the Ortho Weed b Gon – with quick results
- Kills weeds roots yet doesn’t harm your lawn
- Connect your best garden hose to the attached sprayer
Cons
- It may not cover all crabgrass seed in the described area
- Grassy weeds may appear after application
With a guide price of just under $12, the Ortho Weedclear is a quick way to deal with troublesome crabgrass. While it may not cover the given area, it is effective and very easy to apply.
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3. Spectracide HG-95703 Lawn Weed Killer, Ready-to-Use, LAWNGARD
The Spectracide lawn weed killers solution is an inexpensive and compact remedy suitable for crabgrass and other effective weed control. The product works very efficiently to destroy crabgrass from the roots. You can see visible effects inside of five hours of use. You will find it is rainproof in around three hours.
To apply the liquid crabgrass preventer, connect your garden hose to the integrated bottle nozzle. When you switch on the water, point the nozzle and pull the lever to spray. The right amount of herbicide is mixed with water. It can be effective with crabgrass, and the manufacturers it controls over 250 other weeds also.
Pros
- Affordable and convenient to apply
- Quick results in five hours
- Rainproof after three hours
Cons
- Not as effective as other products
- May need repeat applications
With a guide price of below $10, the Spectracide herbicide is an effective way to control weeds, although it isn’t as effective for long term control as other products. It will need repeat applications, especially with common weeds like dandelions.
4. BioAdvanced 704119A Extreme Crabgrass Herbicide Weed Killer, 32-Ounce, Ready-to-Spray
BioAdvanced offers the best post-emergent crabgrass killer that is ready to use and ideal for lawns in the north. The substance performs well when added to the first crabgrass sprouts when temperatures are below 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is rainproof in 1-hour and kills crabgrass to the roots. While effective for many weeds, you need to ensure not to use it on St. Augustine, Floratum, Bermuda grass, Bentgrass, Zoysiagrass, Centipede or Bahia lawns.
Pros
- Ready to use
- Covers up to 5,000 square feet
- Post-emergent to work on adult crabgrass if you miss first sprouting
Cons
- It can take a while to see results
- Can be damaged if temperatures rise above 90 degrees
With a guide price of below $18, the BioAdvanced is easy to apply, crabgrass being the main grass to contend with, and you do need to take care you don’t use it on the grasses listed.
5. BioAdvanced 704140 All-in-One Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer Garden Herbicide, 32-Ounce
When you want one of the best crabgrass killer solutions, you could lean toward the BioAdvanced All-in-One crabgrass killer.
It offers a concentrated formula that you can spread safely across your yard. It will kill weeds you want to kill, including crabgrass and more than 200 varieties of broadleaf weeds.
BioAdvanced starts working as soon as you apply it and is rainproof inside an hour. The herbicide works effectively with many grass varieties to kill the roots, although you need to check on grasses that are not compatible.
Bermuda grass, for one can turn yellow after application, while others can face worse damage.
This device can be used in tank sprayers, with dial-n-spray and hose-end sprayers and with a hose-end sprayer application. For better results, submit at temperatures below 90 degrees and do not mow for a few days after submission.
Pros
- Safe to apply to a full lawn of compatible grass
- Formulated so it halts crabgrass
- Kills over 200 more varieties of weeds
- Rainproof after an hour
Cons
- Not suitable for certain grass types
- Doesn’t work over 90 degrees F
With a guide price of just under $13, it is a cost-effective solution to cover a 6,250 square feet area from one bottle. It may not be the most effective, but it can be a fast way to control crabgrass if you have large areas to cover.
Weed Killer for Crabgrass Buying guide
Crabgrass is a nuisance in your lawn, and you need to use the best crabgrass killers for effective results.
It is vital to consider key factors before buying a crabgrass control product. Here are the main things to consider.
Duration
All weedkillers have a duration of their effectiveness. Some selective herbicide products last for months; others need frequent repeat applications. You need to know how long they will last to see if they are cost-effective.
Size of Coverage
The effectiveness of any crabgrass killer isn’t how long it lasts but the area it covers in an application. Most products specify coverage areas. Check you have performance as well as the coverage. This can help you choose a great crabgrass killer.
Rainproof
Quality crabgrass killers are made to resist weather interference which dilutes the weed-killing functions.
Application Safety
Crabgrass killers are necessary to eliminate weeds, yet some products affect your regular turf. You need to check the herbicide is safe with your grass type.
Post Emergent and Pre-Emergence
A pre-emergent herbicide is very different from those with post emergence properties, and it does make a difference to which one you need to buy.
A post-emergence selective herbicide will kill certain weeds after the germination period. The pre-emergent herbicide deals with weed before they begin to grow.
Final Verdict
It was easy to spot the winner of the best crabgrass killers very early on. While there needs to be a cost to a performance metric. The Tenacity Turf Herbicide did appear very expensive. Yet, with minimal repeat applications and shelf life of up to 8 years, you may not have to buy another crabgrass control solution for years.
It offers a highly effective active ingredient, and although you need to mix and add to a sprayer, the product can deal with mature crabgrass and new grass and rid your lawn of many other weeds and types of crabgrass.
You apply the product and wait, and then watch as, over the next two weeks, you kill the crabgrass for months and regain your healthy lawn. It is the best pre-emergent crabgrass preventer and weed killers you can find.
