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The Citizen, 1995-05-10, Page 17HOME AND GARDEN 95 0 0 4111 Cos fo# Ces fo* vv C foal en, 4J the 45, eye fr • A C 0# CO. 10# le 05 CALL Treebelt LANDSCAPING & SUPPLIES 523-9771 mile west et Myth FOR SPRING LAWN PROJECTS INCLUDING: • Wind Break Trees • Cedar Hedging • Ornamental & Shade Trees • Flowering Shrubs & Perennials • Lawn Fertilizing & Cutting • Power Sweeping of Laneways & Parking Lots • Screened Topsoil • Peat Loam & Crushed Red Chips • Tree Trimming GET A GOOD THING THIS MOWER CUTS IT FOR EVERYONE. Affirdttri, Converts to mulching or side discharge with optional kits. • Available Zone Start or BBC Models (Roto-Stop) • Available Honda's exclusive Hydrostatic Transmission • 5.0 H.P. Honda OHV Engine WINGHAM • 357-3435 n 1111111 HONDA Power Equipment Come Celebrate Spring at Beautiful • Flowering Hanging Baskets • Flowering Hanging Bags • Flowering Plants • Mixed Containers 2 OIL - MOW; t '44 Excellent Selection of • Perennials • Annuals • Shade Loving Plants • Indoor Plants • Vegetable Plants 'AV! , i• TM. k,. • .04 ..,.,,,,....e.„,„:, :.„.,.::::::. k,-,- •-n._ ,,..,..„ ..;-,... -,...„......„._.. l -- 1+.•‘: ....z,:'4.47 3..., *-C-:?‘trilt4 Buy direct from the grower and save $$$ Open Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. PLANT PARADISE THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1995. PAGE 17. Crabgrass most prevalent grassy weed on home fawns in Ontario By Pam Charbonneau Turfgrass Advisor Crabgrass is a warm season summer annual grassy weed. Crabgrass seed germinates in the spring as the soil temperatures rise. The plants grow, flower and set seed during the summer. The plant dies in the fall with the first frost. Crabgrass is the most prevalent grassy weed in home lawns in Ontario. Even though crabgrass germination occurs in late spring and early summer, it is often not noticed until it is well established and producing seed heads. At this point it is very difficult to control using a herbicide. One of the keys to controlling crabgrass is knowing how to properly identify it. Description There are two kinds of crabgrass which grow in Ontario, namely, large and smooth crabgrass. Control measures are the same for both. Large and smooth crabgrass have short, wide leaf blades which taper to a pointed tip. Large crabgrass is a large, coarse plant with hairy leaf blades and sheaths. It grows rapidly and its seed heads may reach 30 cm in height and have finger-like spikes resembling a crow's foot. Smooth crabgrass is more common than large crabgrass. It has small leaf blades which can resemble Kentucky bluegrass. Smooth crabgrass can be distinguished from Kentucky bluegrass because it has long hairs on its collar. Both smooth and large crabgrass are yellow green in colour turning a purplish colour at maturity. Neither smooth or large crabgrass produce rhizomes or stolons. Crabgrass is an abundant seed producer. There is almost always a seed reservoir in the soil. Even under close mowing regimes crabgrass seed heads form, providing new seed for the following year. Seeds germinate when there is a void or opening in the turf that allows light to reach the soil. Crabgrass germination takes place when the soil temperature reaches 15°C and air temperature rises to 18°C for five consecutive days. This occurs first in open areas where soil is exposed and soil warming occurs more quickly than in shaded turfed areas. Crabgrass is more competitive than cool season grasses during hot dry conditions. When a species such as Kentucky bluegrass is dormant due to heat and drought, crabgrass flourishes. Cultural Controls As with any other turf pest, your best line of defense against crabgrass is to maintain a dense, healthy turf. To ,do this use a species suitable for the site, fertilize regularly, raise mowing height to four to 6 cm., and water to keep turf from going dormant. Avoid going into the spring with thin turf. If diseases and insects leave voids in the turf, overseed in the fall to give a good turf cover to shade and crowd out crabgrass. Chemical Control - Pre-emergence Pre-emergence crabgrass herbicides work on.the germinating seedling. The herbicide is taken up by the root and it inhibits root growth. The best time to apply this type of pre-emergence herbicide is one to two weeks before crabgrass germinates. This coincides with the full bloom of forsythia. Crabgrass usually germinates when forsythia are in late bloom, so the herbicide must be applied prior to this or during full bloom. Factors which influence the effectiveness or residual of pre- emergence herbicides are excessive rainfall, high temperature which activates microbes that break down the herbicide, and failure to irrigate within two to three days of herbicide application. A spring drought can delay crabgrass germination until mid summer at which time the herbicide is no longer effective. The two traditional pre- emergence herbicides for crabgrass control are Betasan and Dacthal. Precautions must be taken when reseeding when using either of the traditional pre-emergence herbi- cides. With Betasan, do not reseed a treated area within a year of application. Recommendations with Dacthal are not to reseed for 60 days following the pre-emergence application. In addition, Dacthal may cause injury to some bentgrass cultivars. Herbicides for control of crabgrass are available in both liquid and granular formulations. There are some combination products which include the herbicide mixed with fertilizer. As with any pesticide or fertilizer application, it is important to follow the manufacturers' directions and precautions given on the label.