Spring Fertilizer and Crabgrass Preventer

At the hardware store, we get ask what fertilizer should be the first of the season.

For the Chicago area, a fertilizer with a crabgrass control should be the first thing you put down.

Crabgrass is a stubborn rooting grass that spreads out in thick mats that chokes out regular grass. It also releases a toxin that kills surrounding grass. What is amazing is that one crabgrass plant allowed to grow to maturity can produce 150,000 seeds. Each seed can grow a new plant and take over a lawn if left untreated. Crabgrass is also much harder to kill when mature.

Because you can’t control your neighbors, bird droppings or the wind, a crabgrass control in you first feeding of the year is a simple yearly preventative.

Make sure to rake up all leaves, branches and debris before you put down a crabgrass control. The product needs to be evenly distributed on the lawn and come in contact with the entire lawn. The chemical will stop the crabgrass seeds from germinating.

If you are using a product like Scotts Step One, you can’t seed your lawn with regular grass seed for 4 months. The chemical will prevent the grass seed from germinating.

If you plan on adding grass seed to your lawn, you need to purchase Scotts Step One For Seeding. This product is a little more expensive, but it will stop crabgrass without affecting regular grass.  

Get your crabgrass control down in early spring to prevent crabgrass. Use a crabgrass control with a fertilizer and you will have the start to the greenest grass on your block.

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