Living

Why Crabgrass Keeps Coming Back-and the Simple Fix Most Homeowners Miss

By Tony Carrick Men's Journal

Updated June 20, 2026 1:55 AM

Crabgrass is a bane to those looking to grow a lush and verdant lawn. This menace appears in the late spring then begins taking over as summer heat kicks in. Unlike your lawn, which suffers in intense heat and drought, crabgrass loves these harsh conditions, thriving in dry, hot weather and poor soil conditions. While your grass withers in the hot summer sun, crabgrass flourishes. This weed is best dealt with while it's still in seed form before it can sprout and begin taking over your lawn. Unfortunately, many homeowners wait until it's too late to take out crabgrass, then spend the summer in an endless battle with this weed. Here are the best methods for keeping crabgrass out of your lawn and getting rid of it if it's already taken root.

What Is Crabgrass?

How to Identify Crabgrass

Crabgrass gets its name from its shape. It has thick coarse blades that spread out from a center stem in a crab-like pattern that remains low to the ground. The leaves are typically a bright green or yellow green color and have leaves that are wider than most grass leaves. There are two main types of crabgrass:

Smooth crabgrass - Smooth crabgrass can be identified by the hairless smooth appearance of its leaves. This type of crabgrass is also smaller and more compact.
Large crabgrass - Per its name, this type of crabgrass is larger, and covered in dense coarse hairs that are on the leaves, giving it a fuzzy appearance. It roots easily from the leaves, allowing it to spread rapidly and aggressively.

Why Crabgrass Is So Hard to Control

Crabgrass's ability to reproduce and endure harsh conditions make it difficult to keep out of your lawn.

Prolific seed production - A single crabgrass plant can produce a whopping 150,000 seeds in a single season, and those seeds can lie dormant in grass for up to 15 years.
Hardy - Crabgrass thrives in hot, dry conditions when cool-season grasses struggle. As your lawn turns brown and goes dormant, crabgrass thrives.
Germinates quickly in warm soil - Once soil temperatures reach the mid 50s, it takes just four to five days for it to germinate.

Why Is Crabgrass Growing in Your Lawn?

Thin or Bare Lawn Areas

Thin areas or bare patches on your lawn create openings for crabgrass to grow. Without grass to crowd out weeds, crabgrass can take root and thrive. Thin areas allow sunlight to reach the soil, germinating crabgrass seed. And since the lawn is thin, it's easier for crabgrass to establish itself.

Mowing Too Short

Your grass blades act as an umbrella that shades the soil. Mowing your lawn shorter than the three- to four-inch recommended height allows sunlight to reach the soil, making it easier for crabgrass seed to germinate. A short lawn also weakens your grass, making it less capable of competing with crabgrass. And since crabgrass grows low to the ground and horizontally, it's able to dodge mower blades that damage your turf. Scalping your lawn is especially bad, as it creates a bare soil that's open to sunlight, which is ideal for weed growth.

Poor Lawn Health

If the soil is in poor health it also creates an opening for crabgrass growth. Compacted soil, deficiencies in nutrients and stress from drought all hurt your grass, eliminating the competition for crabgrass. Unlike cool-season grasses, crabgrass can thrive in compacted clay soil as it has an aggressive root system that can penetrate it. And whereas turf grass struggles in poor soil, crabgrass will grow vigorously in nutrient depleted soil. Plus, it can tolerate extreme pH variances and dry, drought-like conditions far better than grass can.

Delayed Spring Weed Prevention

Making a preemptive strike by applying pre-emergent weed control in the spring is by far the most effective way to control and prevent crabgrass. Whereas spraying crabgrass with post-emergent kills a single plant, pre-emergent can prevent hundreds of thousands of seeds from germinating. By using a pre-emergent, you also won't have to kill crabgrass plants, leaving an ugly brown patch in your yard.

The Best Ways to Get Rid of Crabgrass

Pull Crabgrass by Hand (Best for Small Infestations)

Hand pulling is the best way to get rid of crabgrass when the weed is still small and relatively new, according to Bryan Clayton, founder of GreenPal. This method works best in early summer before the weed has had a chance to fully establish itself or drop seeds. Pull the weeds after rain or heavy watering when the soil is loose and it's easier to pull the roots out. Locate the center of the crabgrass, gather the stems into a bunch, gripping down to the base of the plant. Pull the weed slowly so that the leaves don't tear away, leaving the roots in the ground, allowing the weed to grow back. "You've got to get down in there with a weed-pulling tool, get as much of the root as you can, and pull it out," Clayton says. Dispose of the plant in the trash to prevent it from spreading seeds.

Spot-Treat With a Post-Emergent Herbicide

Look for a post-emergent herbicide that will kill crabgrass and is safe for your lawn type. "If you can prevent these weeds from germinating in the first place, that helps your lawn immensely and makes things much easier for you," according to Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love. Do not use an all-purpose weed killer, which will also kill your grass. Apply the herbicide in dry conditions when the temperatures are under 85 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burning the grass, and don't apply it if rain is in the immediate forecast.

Spray the crabgrass and the plant's central crown, applying just enough to wet the leaves without leaving a puddle. Wait at least two days to mow or water your lawn to give the plant time to soak up the herbicide before removing it.

Selective vs. Non-Selective Herbicides

When choosing a herbicide for killing crabgrass, look for a selective herbicide that won't kill grass. Avoid glyphosate, which will kill all plants. You can use a glyphosate product if you're killing crabgrass growing up through a driveway or walkway. Check the label on the herbicide and look for the following active ingredients, which are the best options for crabgrass control:

Quinclorac
Fenoxaprop
Mesotrione
Topramezone

How to Kill Crabgrass Naturally

Vinegar for Crabgrass

Vinegar is a natural means for killing crabgrass in gravel or concrete cracks. Standard household vinegar isn't strong enough to work. Go with horticultural vinegar that is 20 percent to 30 percent acetic acid to kill crabgrass. Mix one gallon of this high-strength vinegar with a cup of salt and tablespoon of dish soap, then spray it on the leaves of the crabgrass. Since vinegar will also kill grass, this isn't an option for killing crabgrass in your lawn.

Boiling Water Method

You can pour boiling water directly onto the plant from a pot or kettle. This method destroys the structure of the crown, killing the plant immediately. As with vinegar, boiling water will also kill other plants, including grass, so avoid using it on your lawn.

Hand Removal and Lawn Thickening

Removing crabgrass by hand, as we detail above, is the best natural option for getting rid of crabgrass that's in your lawn. Hand removal won't damage surrounding grass like other natural methods can and it eliminates the weed immediately. The best overall option is to prevent crabgrass from growing in the first place by growing a thick lawn that crowds out crabgrass.

The Best Time to Treat Crabgrass

Spring Prevention

Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides Before Germination

Timing is crucial when it comes to spring crabgrass prevention. Crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures reach into the mid 50s. Apply pre-emergent in the early to mid spring depending on where you live before crabgrass seed can germinate.

Summer Control

Use Post-Emergent Treatments on Active Growth

While pre-emergents are effective, it's not uncommon for a few crabgrass seeds to make it past this defense, germinate and grow. It's best to hit these crabgrass plants while they're still young using a selective post-emergent. "If you find crabgrass growing, you can try applying a liquid post-emergent herbicide," Corcoran says. "Even with that, the earlier you can attack it, the better. Ideally use a spray bottle and spray the seedlings on a sunny and warm day within two weeks of germination."

Fall Strategy

Stop Next Year's Crabgrass Before It Starts

Bare spots and thin areas of grass are the parts of your lawn that are most susceptible to crabgrass. You can prevent crabgrass from establishing itself by repairing these bald spots and overseeding thin areas. This will thicken your grass, preventing sun from reaching the soil and germinating crabgrass seeds.

How to Prevent Crabgrass From Coming Back

Maintain Proper Mowing Height

Maintaining the right height for grass is key to preventing crabgrass from returning. Keeping cool-season grasses at a height of three to four inches tall shades the soil below, preventing sun from germinating the crabgrass seed.

Overseed Thin Areas

Identify the thin areas of your lawn that are allowing sunlight to pass through and germinate grass seed. Overseed these areas in the fall to thicken the turf, which will choke out any weeds by blocking sunlight.

Fertilize Properly

Fertilize your lawn with a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium mix to build up and thicken the turf. Most lawns do well with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ration of this type of fertilizer. Avoid using too much nitrogen, which can burn your grass. If you're not sure what fertilizer to use, use a soil test kit to determine the best fertilizer mix for your yard.

Water Deeply and Infrequently

Watering properly is key to good lawn health. Rather than watering daily, water deeply. Water between one and 1.5 inches each week, split into two or three sessions. This strategy encourages deep root growth, which makes your lawn more drought resistant. Time your watering for between 4 am and 8 am. Watering early in the day allows for the grass to absorb the water before the heat of the day kicks in and evaporates it while also ensuring that the soil doesn't stay wet for an extended period, which can cause mold growth.

Reduce Soil Compaction

Compact soil chokes your grass while promoting crabgrass growth. Loosen compact soil by aerating your lawn once a year. Aeration removes plugs of earth from the yard, allowing water, nutrients and air to reach the grass roots, helping them to grow stronger.

Best Pre-Emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Prevention

Prodiamine

This is considered the best herbicide for providing season-long weed control. It doesn't wash away easily in rain and can protect your lawn for up to nine months. The downside to this is that it will also block any grass seed you sow while it's active, which makes it a poor choice if you plan on overseeding in the fall.

Dithiopyr

Dihiopyr is one of the only herbicides that's capable of preventing weeds from germinating while also killing off weeds that have already sprouted. It costs more than other pre-emergents and only lasts for about four to five months.

Pendimethalin

This is the most common pre-emergent sold in retail outlets. It's very affordable and provides weed suppression for up to five months. It's also bright yellow and can stain concrete driveways, shoes and clothing.

Which Pre-Emergent Is Right for Your Lawn?

Choosing the right pre-emergent for your lawn depends on several factors. If you're applying pre-emergent in the early spring window, then choose pendimethalin, which is the most affordable and readily available option. If you're late applying pre-mergent, consider springing for dithiopyr, which will take care of crabgrass that has already sprouted. If you're living in an area with an extended growing season and don't plan on overseeding in the fall, then consider going for prodiamine, which offers the longest protection.

Common Crabgrass Mistakes to Avoid

Applying Pre-Emergent Too Late

Timing is everything when it comes to pre-emergent applications. Apply pre-emergent before soil temperatures reach the mid 50s and crabgrass seed can germinate. Once the crabgrass has sprouted most pre-emergents are powerless to stop them.

Seeding Immediately After Pre-Emergent Application

Plan your pre-emergent application in the spring and your overseeding in the fall. Pre-emergent doesn't just stop weed seeds, it also stops grass seed from germinating. If you plant grass seed in the spring, you'll need to either forgo applying pre-emergent altogether or wait for grass seed to germinate before applying it.

Crabgrass vs. Other Common Lawn Weeds

Crabgrass vs. Quackgrass

These two weed types are very different. Crabgrass is an annual weed that dies off in winter while quackgrass, which has wide coarse green or blue-green blades, is a perennial weed that lives year round, even through the winter. While pre-emergent and selective weed killers can take out crabgrass, the only way to kill quackgrass is by pulling it out, or spot treating it with a glyphosate product that will also kill your grass.

Crabgrass vs. Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass, like quackgrass, is a perennial weed that's difficult to kill. It features upright, thick, bunched clumps of leaves. It's easily identifiable through its black spots on its seed heads. The only way to get rid of dallisgrass is by digging out the entire root system. You can also use non-selective herbicides, though they will also kill good grass.

Crabgrass vs. Goosegrass

You can tell crabgrass and goosegrass apart by looking at the center of the plant. Crabgrass has a light green branching center while goosegrass has a wheel pattern with white flattened stems in the middle. Goosegrass requires a post-emergent herbicide that contains special weed killers to remove it.

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Crabgrass?

After Hand Pulling

Hand pulling gives you an instant result, getting rid of the crabgrass immediately. But, depending on how much crabgrass you have, hand pulling may not be doable. Also, unless you pull the entire root out, the crabgrass will regrow. Plus, pulling crabgrass disturbs the soil and leaves a gap, which can spur dormant seeds to grow.

After Herbicide Applications

Herbicides that include such chemicals as quinclorac are absorbed into the plant and cause it to turn yellow, brown or purple and whither in one to two weeks. Applying a pre-emergent that contains prodiamine or dithiopyr prevents crabgrass from ever growing, so you should notice the results in your lawn throughout the summer.

How Long Seeds Remain Viable in Soil

Crabgrass seed remains viable in the soil for at least three years and up to 15 years, after which it dies off. This is why pre-emergent is the best defense against crabgrass.

FAQs

Does crabgrass die in winter?

Yes. Crabgrass completely dies off with the first hard frost of the year. Unfortunately, that dead plant leaves behind thousands of dormant seeds that can germinate when spring arrives.

What's the fastest way to get rid of crabgrass?

The best way to get rid of existing crabgrass is to spot treat it with a selective post-emergent herbicide that contains the active ingredient quinclorac. This kills the weed down to the root without harming your lawn.

Is crabgrass a sign of a bad lawn?

Crabgrass isn't an indicator of a bad lawn but rather a symptom of lawn issues, such as bare spots, compacted soil, improper watering, and thin turf. Solving these issues will discourage crabgrass from growing in your lawn.

Can I seed after killing crabgrass?

You can seed after killing crabgrass, but you need to wait a set amount of time depending not on the type of weed killer you used. If you apply the grass seed too early, you can kill young grass or prevent new grass seed from germinating.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Home Living section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 12:45 AM.