Plant Profile: Digitaria sanguinalis

Crabgrass is a fast-spreading summer annual weed that can quickly establish colonies. It features multiple branching stems at its base, with the lower branches sprawling along the ground while the upper ones grow more upright. This weed thrives in full to partial sunlight and prefers moist to dry clay loams, but it is highly adaptable to less fertile soils. Crabgrass has proliferated across nearly every state in the U.S. To prevent seed germination, apply a pre-emergence herbicide in late winter or early spring. These herbicides typically require rainfall or irrigation to become effective, so it's important to time your application carefully. Additionally, promptly remove any plants that sprout early in the season, as they become more entrenched in the soil over time. Mulching garden beds can help inhibit germination. Frost will effectively kill off this weed. In lawn care, maintaining a healthy turfgrass is crucial, as a dense canopy can outcompete Crabgrass.