When to Apply Crabgrass Prevention in Northeast Wisconsin

This Winter seems to be flying by, and before you know it, Spring will triumphantly return! But if you live in Northeast Wisconsin and don't have crabgrass prevention, this could also mean the unsightly return of that pesky crabgrass. Even if you do have crabgrass prevention, it could still be applied too early or late, rendering it useless! So, what's a good ole Wisconsinite to do? Let's see what the research says!

The University of Massachusetts Amherst states that when soil temperature reaches 55°F for four or five consecutive days, crabgrass begins to germinate. Weed Wrangler is located in Algoma, Wisconsin. The first day in Algoma to reach a soil temperature of 55 degrees last year was May 9th, 2022. The first time the soil temperature reached 55 degrees for 4 consecutive days was May 9th - May 13th, 2022. The 10-year average for Algoma shows the soil temperature reaching 55 degrees for four days in a row from May 14th - May 17th. So, we have learned we need to get our crabgrass prevention down before early to mid-May! But how early should we apply it?

According to Michigan State University, the sweet spot for applying crabgrass prevention is when soil temperatures are between 50 and 55 degrees consistently. However, here in Northeast Wisconsin, that can be directly before or the same exact time as the first consistent 55+ degree days arrive! Not a very good time window. However, there is no need to worry! Crabgrass prevention will still work great as long as common sense is used and the application is not performed in consistent freezing temperatures. So, for places in Northeast Wisconsin like Algoma, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay, and Door County, dates from April through early to mid-May are usually a great time to apply! If applied at this time during a year of typical climate, the crabgrass prevention will last the whole Spring season.

Our first application here at Weed Wrangler consists of a fertilizer with crabgrass prevention! Give us a call at 920-880-3956 or email to service@weedwranglerlawns.com to get on a program if you are interested!

References

Anonymous. “Biology and Management of Crabgrass.” Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, 9 Apr. 2013, ag.umass.edu/home-lawn-garden/fact-sheets/biology-management-of-crabgrass. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

“Timing Crabgrass Preemergence Applications in Spring.” Turf, www.canr.msu.edu/news/timing_crabgrass_pre_emergence_applications. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

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