There's nothing quite as aggravating as busting your hump all summer to have a beautiful lawn and garden and get an invasion of crabgrass.  The Master Gardeners at Cornell Cooperative Extension have some tips on preventing it from getting started.

The Master Gardeners think the weed is appropriately named, because it makes people crabby.  Like other annual weeds, crabgrass sprouts in spring, matures, sets seeds and then dies, all in the same year. New seedlings appear each spring. Crabgrass spreads by seeds which can survive in the soil up to 3 years. It creeps via rooting along the stem nodes. And when you least expect it, this weed can take over your lawn and garden.

Crabgrass usually creeps into the garden bed from the lawn. So keeping it out of your lawn, can go a long way to keeping it out of the garden.  Work on improving the health of your lawn by mowing at the proper height, applying fertilizer at the right time and keeping your lawn irrigated. Crabgrass can't compete well against a healthy turf and you'll be able to keep this pesky weed out of the garden.

The best control method is to prevent seeds from spreading. Consider covering garden beds with 2 to 3 inches of mulch which not only preserves soil moisture but keeps out sunlight which is critical for crabgrass germination. Hand-pulling is also effective, but can be tedious. You can also try a pre-emergent herbicide; be sure to read the label and follow the instructions. Be sure not to use any pre-emergent herbicides near any seeds you want to grow; otherwise, those seeds won't germinate.

For more information about crabgrass and other weeds, at CCE's website in the Home and Garden Section or call the Horticulture Hot Line Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00am to 12:00pm at 315-736-3394.

More From Big Frog 104