Crab Grass...anyone with problems or info?

[ONThorsegirl]

Hello Everyone, Again, this will be my last time bugging everyone for weed info. Everyone was such a great help with my last post of mine regarding Bull Thistles and Lambs Quarters, but I couldn't get enough information about Lamb Quarters that was bad.

Well here at school, Kemptville College Agriculture College in Ontario Canada. I have to do a project on 2 weeds that are problems on our farm, one of my Weeds of choice is now Crab Grass

I was posting here to see if I could have any knowledge any of you may have as being farmers, specialists, or homesteaders in general who have possibly came into contact with this weed, and if so any advice about it, how you killed it, anything at all, has it effected your livestock or anything really!!!

Also if I have your permission could I use what you say as a reference for my project. I have to write a pretty lengthy report and any usable information would be great for me to include.

Thank you, Melissa

[uncle Will in In.]

Hi there Melissa.
Crabgrass is for the most part a thorn in the side of people who take pride in their lawns. Scotts sell bagged lawn fertilizer that has a chemical added to eliminate crabgrass in your lawn.
The other place it can be a pain is in your garden. A good practice there is to Nip it in the bud. (Barny Fife said that) Pulling it, or taking it out with your hoe is great exercise.
In pastures, I don't know of any serious problems.
On the possitive side, it is nice and green late in the hot dry summer weather we sometimes experience.
Tell your learned professor Unk said Hi.

[Bearfootfarm]

A "weed" is any plant that grows where you dont want it. While most dont want crabgrass in their "lawn", few people realize its an EXCELLENT pasture grass. It's high in nutrition, and reproduces well.

http://www.noble.org/Ag/Forage/Crabg...r_pasture.html

http://www.kelloggseedservice.com/whatwedo/redcrab.html

One man's weed is another's flower

[ONThorsegirl]

Thanks guys, how about crabgrass in your crops?

Melissa

[Cyngbaeld]

Crabgrass is very high protein and about the only green feed that grows in the winter here. I depend on it for my poultry to graze on in the cooler months when the frost kills off the coastal.

[ONThorsegirl]

Thanks you everyone for posting and helping me out, I have to submit my project tomorrow morning, so I hope all of your advice and time you spent will be good and I hope it shows on my mark, any one with any more info can submit it I will be working on it for finishing touches this evening, and I always check it!!

THANK YOU!!!

Melissa

[mysticokra]

If you scratch the surface of the soil then crabgrass will fill in the spot.
We drag a disc around the field to promote the crabgrass because the cows love it.

If you really want to understand how valuable weeds are, read Charles Walter's book on Weeds at http://www.acresusa.com/books/closeu...&catid=&pcid=2

or E.E. Pfeiffer's book at http://www.acresusa.com/books/closeu...&catid=&pcid=2