Stop crabgrass before it starts with professional pre-emergent control from Greenlawn Inc. Serving Ellicott City, Columbia, and Howard County since 1986.
Pre-emergent crabgrass control MUST be applied before soil temperatures reach 55°F—typically early March in Howard County. Apply too late and crabgrass seeds have already germinated. Once crabgrass sprouts, pre-emergent doesn't work. Schedule now to secure your spot before the critical window closes!
Prevent it now with one early spring application
Call for FREE EstimateCrabgrass is the most frustrating lawn weed in Howard County. This annual grassy weed germinates in spring, grows aggressively through summer, and produces thousands of seeds before dying in fall. A single crabgrass plant can produce 150,000 seeds, ensuring next year's infestation will be even worse without intervention. Crabgrass thrives in hot, sunny conditions—exactly what Maryland summers provide.
At Greenlawn Inc, we've been preventing crabgrass in Ellicott City and Columbia lawns since 1986. Our 39 years of experience has taught us that successful crabgrass control is all about prevention, not reaction. Once you see crabgrass in June, it's too late for prevention—you're stuck with expensive, less-effective post-emergent treatments all summer. The key to crabgrass-free lawns is applying pre-emergent herbicide at the right time in early spring.
Crabgrass creates multiple problems for Howard County homeowners:
Pre-emergent herbicides create a chemical barrier in the top layer of soil that prevents crabgrass seeds from germinating. Here's what you need to know:
Crabgrass seeds germinate when soil temperatures reach 55°F at 2-inch depth for 5-7 consecutive days. In Howard County, this typically occurs in late March to early April. Pre-emergent herbicide must be applied BEFORE this happens—ideally when soil first approaches 50°F in early March. Our 39 years of experience timing applications in Ellicott City means we know exactly when to apply for maximum effectiveness.
Pre-emergent products form a barrier in the soil surface. When crabgrass seeds absorb water and attempt to germinate, they contact this barrier and die before emerging. The barrier remains effective for 8-12 weeks, covering the primary crabgrass germination period. Professional products provide longer residual control than consumer formulations, often lasting the entire season with a single application.
Apply too early (February) and the product may degrade before crabgrass germination begins. Apply too late (mid-April) and seeds have already germinated—pre-emergent doesn't kill emerged crabgrass. The window for optimal application is narrow: early to mid-March in Columbia and Ellicott City. We monitor soil temperatures daily and schedule customers for their optimal application date.
Greenlawn Inc's proven crabgrass prevention approach delivers 90-95% control:
We don't rely on calendar dates alone. We monitor local soil temperatures throughout Howard County in late winter and early spring. When temperatures begin approaching the critical 50-55°F range, we schedule applications. This scientific approach ensures optimal timing year after year, regardless of whether spring arrives early or late.
Our MDA licensing (Pesticide License #23902) allows us to use professional pre-emergent herbicides with longer residual activity and better performance than consumer products. These formulations provide 10-12 weeks of control from a single application, often eliminating the need for split applications that consumer products require.
Most customers receive pre-emergent crabgrass control combined with spring fertilization in a single application. This combination approach saves money, reduces lawn traffic, and ensures your Ellicott City lawn gets both nutrition and weed prevention at the optimal time. One application addresses both needs efficiently.
Pre-emergent effectiveness depends on thorough, even coverage across your entire lawn. Our calibrated commercial spreaders ensure uniform distribution—no gaps where crabgrass can germinate, no overlaps that waste product. We also apply extra attention to high-risk areas: along driveways, sidewalks, and in full-sun locations where crabgrass thrives.
Pre-emergent herbicides must be watered into the soil to form the barrier where seeds germinate. We provide specific watering instructions based on weather forecasts and product used. Proper activation is critical—without watering-in, products remain on grass blades and provide minimal control.
Many Columbia homeowners wait until they see crabgrass in June, then attempt control. This reactive approach is expensive, time-consuming, and less effective:
Pre-emergent control requires one application in early spring, typically combined with fertilization. Cost: $50-$100 for most residential lawns. Effectiveness: 90-95% control when properly timed. Time investment: Zero—we handle everything. Result: Crabgrass-free lawn all summer.
Post-emergent crabgrass control requires 2-4 applications throughout summer as new crabgrass continues emerging. Cost: $150-$400+ for multiple treatments. Effectiveness: 60-80% control at best, often much less. Time investment: Ongoing monitoring and repeated applications. Result: Reduced but not eliminated crabgrass, dead patches where crabgrass is killed, seeds produced despite treatment ensuring next year's problem.
Prevention costs less, works better, and saves summer weekends. Post-emergent control costs more, works worse, and requires ongoing effort. Every lawn care professional chooses prevention—homeowners should too.
March applications book up fast—reserve your spot now
Call to ScheduleDIY crabgrass prevention is possible but often fails due to timing errors, improper application rates, or inadequate coverage. Consumer pre-emergent products available at garden centers have shorter residual activity than professional formulations, typically requiring split applications in both March and May for season-long control. Most Howard County homeowners find professional application more reliable and cost-effective when factoring in product costs ($40-60), spreader purchase or rental ($50-150), time investment, and risk of failure. Our commercial-grade products provide 10-12 weeks of protection from a single application, while consumer products often provide only 6-8 weeks. Additionally, we combine pre-emergent with spring fertilization in one application, saving you time and ensuring perfect timing for both treatments.
Pre-emergent herbicides prevent ALL seeds from germinating—including grass seed you want to grow. If you need to overseed bare areas this spring, you have limited options: overseed in early March BEFORE applying pre-emergent and wait 6-8 weeks before applying (which may miss the optimal crabgrass prevention window), or skip pre-emergent in areas being seeded (accepting crabgrass risk there). However, we strongly recommend fall overseeding instead of spring seeding. Fall is the optimal time for establishing grass in Howard County—cool temperatures, adequate moisture, and less weed competition create ideal conditions. Fall overseeding also allows you to apply full pre-emergent coverage in spring without conflicts. Our fall aeration and overseeding services deliver much better results than spring seeding while protecting your entire lawn from crabgrass next season.
No—pre-emergent herbicides are completely safe for established grass. These products target germinating seeds, not established plants. Your existing tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, or perennial ryegrass has already germinated years ago and developed extensive root systems that aren't affected by pre-emergent chemicals. Pre-emergent herbicides work by disrupting cell division in germinating seedlings before they emerge from soil. Established grass with mature root systems and crowns continues growing normally. We've been applying pre-emergent to Howard County lawns since 1986 without any damage to existing turf. The only precaution is avoiding areas where you plan to seed within 8-12 weeks, since grass seed would be prevented from germinating just like crabgrass seed.
Several factors cause pre-emergent failure in Howard County lawns. The most common is improper timing—applying after crabgrass has already germinated (late April or May) means pre-emergent can't work since it only prevents germination. Inadequate coverage from DIY application leaves gaps where crabgrass emerges. Insufficient watering-in means the barrier never properly forms in the soil. Soil disturbance after application from core aeration, renovation work, or pet digging breaks the barrier. Using consumer products with shorter residual control (6-8 weeks) leaves lawns vulnerable in late spring. Finally, some crabgrass seeds blow in from neighboring untreated properties after the barrier degrades in July-August. Professional application with proper timing, commercial products, thorough coverage, and correct watering-in minimizes these failure points. While no treatment achieves 100% control, our applications typically deliver 90-95% prevention—dramatically better than DIY results.
The ideal pre-emergent application window in Howard County is early to mid-March, before soil temperatures consistently reach 55°F. We don't rely on calendar dates alone—we monitor actual soil temperatures at 2-inch depth throughout Columbia and Ellicott City. When soil approaches 50°F with forecasts indicating continued warming, we begin scheduling applications. This scientific approach accounts for early or late springs. Timing is critical: apply too early in February and products may degrade before crabgrass germinates; apply too late in mid-April and many crabgrass seeds have already sprouted. The germination window is narrow and unforgiving. Our 39 years of experience timing applications in Maryland means we know exactly when to apply for maximum effectiveness. We contact customers in late February to schedule their optimal application date based on current soil temperatures and weather forecasts, ensuring perfect timing every year.
If you're seeing crabgrass, pre-emergent herbicide won't help—it only prevents seeds from germinating and has no effect on emerged plants. You'll need post-emergent crabgrass control, which requires multiple applications throughout summer as new plants continue emerging. Post-emergent control is more expensive ($150-400+ for season-long treatment vs. $50-100 for pre-emergent), less effective (60-80% control at best), and time-consuming. Additionally, killed crabgrass leaves dead brown patches requiring overseeding, and surviving plants produce seeds ensuring next year's infestation. The best strategy if you have crabgrass now is: treat existing plants with post-emergent herbicide to minimize seed production, then make pre-emergent application your top priority next March. Prevention is always more effective and economical than reaction. Contact us for post-emergent treatment options and to schedule pre-emergent for next spring before the window closes again.
Don't spend another summer fighting crabgrass. One well-timed spring application prevents the problem entirely. Greenlawn Inc has been providing crabgrass prevention to Howard County homeowners since 1986, and we understand exactly when and how to apply pre-emergent for maximum effectiveness in Maryland's climate.
As MDA licensed professionals (Pesticide License #23902, Fertilizer Applicator #F0684), we use professional products and proven techniques that deliver reliable results. Our comprehensive lawn care programs include pre-emergent crabgrass control as part of spring services, along with fertilization and other treatments for complete lawn health.
Schedule crabgrass prevention before it's too late
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Preventing crabgrass in Howard County since 1986
Family Owned · MDA Licensed · Perfect Timing Guaranteed
About Greenlawn Inc: Since 1986, Greenlawn Inc has provided expert crabgrass prevention and comprehensive lawn care services to homeowners throughout Howard County, Maryland. Our MDA-licensed team specializes in pre-emergent weed control, fertilization programs, and all services needed to maintain weed-free, beautiful lawns in Ellicott City, Columbia, and throughout Howard County.