What Is Crabgrass?
By Richard Thomas
Overview
Crabgrass is the bane of many a man who cares about his yard. The clumps of dark, thick grass ruin the perfect picture of uniformity desired in lawns. However, American crabgrass ((D. sanguinalis) is actually part of a large family of plants that in some parts of the world is used for food.
Genus
Crabgrasses around the world belong to a genus called Digitaria. There are more than 300 separate species, all of them native to warm temperate or tropical areas.
Names
The two most common forms of crabgrass in the U.S. are Large Crabgrass (D. sanguinalis), sometimes also called Hairy Crabgrass; and Smooth Crabgrass (D. ischaemum). Elsewhere the plant is also called Finger Grass and Fonio.
Weeds?
Crabgrass is often thought of as a weed, because it ruins the uniform appearance of the grass desired for lawns with its visibly clumpy nature. It also has a different texture and color from grasses that are common to lawns.
Uses
Despite being considered a nuisance in the U.S., the variety common in West Africa has its uses. There it is known as Fonio. The seeds can be toasted and then ground into flour, which can be used either in porridge or to make a kind of beer. Fonio is actually a basic staple crop in Africa.
Crabgrass Control
The way to deal with crabgrass is to use a pre-emergent herbicide. These are used to interfere with seed germination. Pendulum and Surflan are good examples. They need to be applied before the seeds germinate, but in a period where rain isn't likely, or else the herbicide will wash away. That makes timing the spraying a tricky, critical business.
What Is Crabgrass? by bestgardentipsblog.com