How to Identify Crabgrass
Identify crabgrass by its wide, light green blades growing in low star-shaped clumps that spread outward from a central point. It appears in late spring and produces finger-like seed heads by midsummer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does crabgrass look like when it first starts growing?
Young crabgrass is easy to miss. It starts as a small clump of 3 to 5 wider-than-normal blades with a lighter green color. At this stage it blends with the lawn. It becomes obvious once it starts spreading sideways and forming the characteristic star-shaped clumps, usually by June.
How can I tell crabgrass from regular grass?
Three differences: crabgrass blades are wider and lighter green than your turf. It grows outward in a low star shape instead of upright. And by midsummer it produces finger-like seed heads that no lawn grass produces. If you see all three, it's crabgrass.
Can crabgrass be confused with bermuda grass?
Yes, especially in warm-season lawns. Bermuda grass has much finer blades and a dense, wiry texture. Crabgrass is coarser with wider blades. Bermuda spreads by both stolons and rhizomes underground. Crabgrass spreads only by seed and surface tillering.
