When To Apply Crabgrass Preventer In Nj

Crabgrass typically germinates mid to late april in central and northern new jersey and early to mid april in southern parts of the state.
When to apply crabgrass preventer in nj. After crabgrass control is applied do not seed the lawn for at least six weeks. The best time to apply crabgrass preventer is early spring just before the rain and not after rain usually when soil temperature rises to about 55 f. Forsythia is an excellent phenological indicator for crabgrass germination figure 6. For best results apply the herbicide in the morning after the dew has dried.
If you apply the herbicide too early in the spring it may break down before the end of the. Summer annual grasses i e crabgrass are primarily controlled with herbicides that are applied preemergence to the weeds. Scotts turfbuilder with halts crabgrass preventer our preemergent of choice this year because that s what was available at the big box recommends spreading the preemergent before the days are regularly in the 80s. Apply the herbicide on a calm sunny day.
Rainfall shortly after application will wash the product away before the crabgrass has a chance to absorb it. When forsythia is in full bloom crabgrass pre emergent herbicides should be applied as soon as possible. When to apply crabgrass preventer. Here is how to use a soil thermometer correctly to take this reading you will be using a screwdriver first to make a pilot hole.
But if you just seeded your lawn or you are planning to seed adjust the application time to ensure the herbicide doesn t stop your grass seed from taking root since the product will stop different kinds of seeds from growing. These herbicides are applied to the turf and prevent the germination of weed seeds. Once the seeds germinate the opportunity for prevention is passed. In new jersey apply crabgrass control in the time between the blooming of forsythia and lilac generally in mid april.
Crabgrass seeds germinate in the early spring when the temperature of the surface soil rises into the 50s and 60s. The best time to apply a crabgrass preventer will be when the soil temperature reaches 55 60 degrees fahrenheit and holds that reading for a few days in a row. So applying the preemergent early is key. Put down the herbicide just before it is forecasted to rain but not on wet grass.
Zero phosphate crabgrass control formulation promotes clean waterways. Winter weeds controlled by scott s halts crabgrass preventer include annual bluegrass. If you wait until late afternoon dew or a shower may prevent maximum absorption. Crabgrass preventer should be applied when soil temperatures reach 50 to 55 degrees fahrenheit.