Crabgrass Prevention and Fertilization Schedule for Mid-Atlantic Lawns

Crabgrass Prevention and Fertilization Schedule for Mid-Atlantic Lawns

For a ⅛-acre lawn in Herndon, VA with recurring weed/heat issues:

Preemergent Herbicide Selection

• Dense turf is the best prevention.
• For established lawns: standard preemergents (pendimethalin, prodiamine, dithiopyr) applied before crabgrass germination (soil temp ~55°F).
• For newly seeded areas: Only siduron (Tupersan) is safe at seeding. Apply per label; two apps 3–5 weeks apart.

Fertilizer Rate & Timing

• Standard rate: 1 lb N per 1000 sq ft per application.
• Bag label shows %N (first number). Example: 50 lb bag of 10-6-4 = 5 lb N = covers 5000 sq ft.
• Use Fertilizer Calculator for precise amounts.

Annual Schedule (Quality-Based)

• Moderate quality: Early May (slow-release) + Early September (slow-release).
• High quality: Early May + Early September + Late Oct/Nov (winterizer, e.g., 24-3-12).
• Reminders: Mother’s Day, Labor Day, Halloween.

Best Seeding Window

Late August – Early September. Seedlings establish in cool fall. Next best: very early spring.

Resources

• WVU Lawn Calendar
• UMD Lawn Maintenance Guidelines

Contact local Extension for exact germination dates in your microclimate.