I'm a lawn freak, I'll admit it. I tried to get that magazine-quality lawn without spending moolah on all of those chemicals, but it just seems that regular soil can't produce that kind of lawn, it's impossible. Grass needs a little help. I then realized that those magazine lawns actually are treated with the chemicals I've been trying to avoid. So, I decided to give it a whirl.

I bought the concentrate from a Home Depot store last summer for about $9 per concentrated bottle and used it per the directions. (I also bought a dial-sprayer for about $8 to go along with it.) So, considering the investment, I was really hoping it would work. It did, though not right away.


How it works

Ortho Weed-be-gone Crabgrass Killer works much like Round-up or any other weed killer. It soaks through the leaves of the plants/weeds, eventually killing the roots. It does not harm or pollute the soil. It even says right on the bottle that you can plant new grass seed on an area that you just treated within 24hrs! But make sure you apply it when the crabgrass is present and growing, it only works through the leaves; no leaves - no kill!


Patience!

The problem I think some people have with this product is that it is s l o w to act. It says on the bottle that 5-7 days is required. It's not lying. When I use Round-up to kill grass and weeds, I notice a shriveling and browning in 24 hrs, and a definite kill in 2-3 days....this Ortho Crabgrass stuff makes you think you did it wrong. The first time I used it I thought I must've diluted it too much. But, by the end of a week or so, there's the yellowing and browning I was looking for. Patience is the key.


When to apply, and how

You have to wait at least one day, preferably 2 days AFTER you mow to apply this stuff, and then wait an additional 1-2 days before mowing again after you apply it- again, preferably 2. So do it when you can afford 4 days minimum between mowings. Also, make sure it won't rain within 24 hrs, and make sure it's between 50 and 90 degrees outside. Now that you've got the perfect weather and circumstances, you're ready to go!

You have to use a tank or hose-end sprayer. The hose-end sprayers are the fastest, and best option for this type of application, assuming you have enough hose to reach the areas you need to treat. The dial-sprayer is my favorite -you can pick one up for about $8 give or take. Don't be pressured into buying the "Ortho" model either; I bought the Ace Hardware version, same exact thing, just $2 cheaper.

Once you've got the sprayer, the concentrate, and the perfect weather, you then have to do the math. It has recommendations on the back as to the amount to use, and your yard's size. Make sure you take the time to get these measurements right the first time, too little or too much can either waste your money entirely, or ruin your yard!

Personal Recommendations

I personally recommend doing this as early in the year as possible. Wait until you've mowed your yard a time or three to make sure the crabgrass is growing. If you wait too long, there'll be so much more to contend with. Too early, and there isn't enough leaves/blades to kill the roots or seeds that are still dormant. This seems obvious, I know, but I'm trying to help.

Also, don't be tempted to spray too little or too much. Just walk along and *wet* the grass with the sprayer...don't soak it, you'll just waste the stuff by soaking your grass.


All in all...

I highly recommend this stuff if you're looking at crabgrass removal. The treated areas will eventually brown and die, and be mowed away. New crabgrass will continually sprout, so keeping a little of this on-hand throughout the summer would be a good idea. I recommend a follow-up treatment with a weed-killer after a couple weeks or so, to completely kill all unwanted weeds from your lawn. A fertilizer is only necessary if you want a greener, thicker lawn. I personally don't use fertilizer because it also causes you to have to mow much more often. I just use a sprinkler through hot dry stretches.

Good luck!



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