Crabgrass is that annoying weed that shows up on your lawn and refuses to leave!
Taking care of a healthy lawn takes patience and effort, especially if you want to use natural ways to handle weeds (nobody wants to use those dangerous chemicals!).
Crabgrass can be tricky to control. Even if you pull it out each time you see it, it will come back soon enough because their seeds are hiding in the soil!
This all suggests that getting rid of crabgrass without using chemical weed killer can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
I’m here to share a simple solution that only requires two basic kitchen ingredients – lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Here’s how it actually works:
Witness The Magic Of Vinegar And Lemon Juice
Creating your own natural weed killer is easier than you might think!
Start with lemon juice concentrate – crabgrass can’t stand citric acid. Mix about ½ a cup of lemon juice with 4 cups of apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Remember to shake it up!
Spray the mixture directly on the crabgrass – cover every inch of crabgrass completely with it. Just be careful not to get it on your other grass, as it can harm anything else it touches.
Let it dry – it’s better to wait for a sunny day so that the leaves can dry out quickly.
Wait 24 hours and pull out the dead crabgrass – after a day, your crabgrass should start to wilt. Once it’s dead, pull it out and throw it away. If you leave the roots, the crabgrass might come back!
Treat weeds while they’re still young – treating them within two weeks of sprouting will get you the greatest results. Spring is the perfect time to fight crabgrass!
Avoid mowing or overwatering – these can make your crabgrass grow even more, so it’s best to avoid doing this while treating weeds.
Related: Analysis Of Dallisgrass vs Crabgrass To Help You Identify Them
How To Prevent Crabgrass From Coming Back
It’s true that this solution can really work wonders, but the real secret lies in prevention.
Here are a few tips to stop crabgrass from making a comeback:
1. Mow at the right height – keep your grass a little taller, around 3-4 inches. This gives the grass enough shade to prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating.
2. Water wisely – give your lawn deep, infrequent watering instead of light, frequent sprinkles. Crabgrass loves moisture, but strong, healthy grass doesn’t, so keep your lawn on a sensible watering schedule.
3. Use a pre-emergent in early spring – if you’re okay with a natural pre-emergent like corn gluten meal, this can stop crabgrass seeds from sprouting.
4. Overseed bare spots – don’t leave bare patches on your lawn for crabgrass to take over! Overseed those areas with grass seed to keep your lawn full and crabgrass-free.
5. Fertilize for healthy growth – feed your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow thick and strong. Healthy grass is your best defense against crabgrass and other weeds.
After you destroy crabgrass with vinegar and lemon juice, stick to these preventative measures and enjoy your weed-free lawn!
If this doesn’t work for you, here’s something else you can try: Destroy Annoying Crabgrass With One Product You Already Own