Crabgrass in Jacksonville, FL

In most people's minds the lawn care season begins in the spring here in Jacksonville, FL.  However, most experts would say that the most critically timed lawn care service application of the year take place in February.  This is your crab grass pre-emergent.  Unlike other parts of Florida, Jacksonville will often get a freeze in the winter.  A freeze can selectively kill crabgrass in your yard.  

This is a case where nature can do what chemicals cannot.  It is only after a freeze selectively controls crabgrass, but before soil temperatures reach 65 degrees when you must apply your pre-emergent crabgrass application.  Pre-emergent weed control is highly effective in keeping crabgrass and other weeds from germinating.  Over time crabgrass can be greatly reduced or eliminated with proper year over year care.  

It is important to ensure your desirable turf is hardy enough to withstand the freeze itself.  Mow higher than normal recommended heights for your turf and water the night before a hard freeze if possible.  Lawns in the shade will often withstand cold damage better than yards in the full sun.  

Stay away from lawn care service companies that only come every 45 to 60 days.  It is not possible to properly time crabgrass and large patch applications on this schedule.  It is our recommendation to use a monthly lawn service for best results. Longer service intervals mean poorly timed applications which can lead to failures.

Winter is the season when people tend to overlook lawn care, but it is extremely important to have your lawn service company apply these critical applications with proper timing.  Once crabgrass has germinated it cannot be controlled in St. Augustine turf throughout the remainder of the growing season. Crabgrass pre-emergent is included in our regular service.