Crabgrass Identification and Prevention in Bermuda Lawns

Q: What is this weed in my bermuda lawn?

It's crabgrass. Prevention is key:

• Apply pre-emergent (click for sources) in early spring.
• Timing: when soil reaches 50°F and rising (early March in Atlanta; mid-February application is safe).
• Once sprouted, control is difficult. Seeds can lie dormant 3 years—yearly vigilance essential.
• Crabgrass sheds seed by early June; prevention is BY FAR the best option. Plants die in fall, leaving hundreds of seeds for next year.