Large Crabgrass

From Turf Wiki

Large crabgrass has hairs on the leaf sheath

Large crabgrass inflorescence is a series of spikes with 1 floret per spikelet

Both smooth and large crabgrass ligule have a membranous ligule

• Scientific Name: Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.

• Common Names: Large Crabgrass (United States), Capim colchao ou milha, Crop grass, Dewgrass, Early crabgrass, Hairy Crabgrass, Hairy Finger-grass, Harig Vingergras, Landgrass, Polish millet, Rikkaverihirssi,Summer grass, Twitch grass, Wild millet, Yaa teenkaa

• Climatic Zone: Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

• Geographic Distribution: North America, Africa, Europe, East Asia, Australia, South America

• Life Cycle: Summer annual

• Photosynthetic Apparatus: C4

• Major Identifying Characteristic: Rolled vernation. Tall rounded membranous ligule. Distinct inflorescence with 2-6 spikes, 1 floret per spikelet, hairs on the leaf sheath

Control Strategies

• Cultural Control: Raise mowing height and avoid operations that expose bare soil (coring, verticutting, establishing turf from seed) during times when crabgrass germination is favored. Crabgrass is generally killed by the first frost (where applicable).

• Chemical Control: Apply a preemergence herbicide in spring when soil temperature reaches 55 F (12 C). Alternatively, postemergence herbicides work best on either young (1-4 leaf) or old (post seedhead) plants.