The ongoing drought and heat have wreaked havoc on our lawns, leaving them parched and vulnerable to the onslaught of crabgrass, quackgrass, and tall fescue. These invasive grasses have seized the opportunity presented by the slow, stressed growth of our lawns, thriving in the heat and drought conditions. Crabgrass, in particular, is an annual grass that waits patiently for warm soil before sprouting from seed each spring. By midsummer, it's hitting its stride, thriving along hot pavement, in compacted soil, and in areas where turf is thin. Its distinctive low-growing habit, resembling a crab's body and legs, makes it easily recognizable. As the season progresses, crabgrass seeds are currently being dispersed, with a pronged seed head resembling a goose's foot. These seeds create a seedbank in the soil, ensuring the crabgrass's survival and growth in the following year. The challenge arises when these seeds germinate in the spring, as each crabgrass plant can produce thousands of seeds, waiting patiently through winter to begin the cycle anew. To combat this, building a dense, healthy lawn is crucial, as it leaves little room for weed seeds to germinate. However, if crabgrass preventers are not applied in time, crabgrass killers can be used to target tiny crabgrass seedlings. Quackgrass, on the other hand, is a perennial grass with white rhizomes spreading horizontally under the soil surface. It is more challenging to eliminate than crabgrass, as there are no selective herbicides that can remove it without damaging the 'good' turfgrasses. Digging out small patches or using non-selective herbicides are necessary to control quackgrass. The article concludes with a hopeful tone, suggesting that with the arrival of much-needed rainfall and cooler temperatures, lawns may soon recover, and fall fertilizing will be vital to re-energize stressed turf. However, it also emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to prevent the spread of these invasive grasses.
