Tall Fescue

Lawn Fertilizing Service in Macomb, Oakland and Berrien County Michigan.  Is it  CRABGRASS or TALL FESCUE?

Award-Winning Lawn Fertilizing Service by a Master Gardener.  Master Gardener Lawn Care’s lawn fertilizing service receives a few calls each Spring from clients in Macomb, Oakland and Berrien County, Michigan about what they believe is crabgrass.  In actuality they have misidentified tall fescue as crabgrass.  

Mature Crabgrass

Knowing when crabgrass is likely to be present is helpful in proper identification and control of weedy grasses in your lawn. Homeowners who complain of crabgrass infestations in April and May are usually identifying tall fescue, nimblewill or quackgrass. Crabgrass germination typically begins in late May when soil temperatures reach 62 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of 1 to 2 inches, or about two weeks after the forsythia blooms begin to drop. Therefore it is impossible for crabgrass to be present in April or even in May in Michigan. In most cases what we are looking at is tall fescue.  Please notice in the pictures below the growing characteristic of each plant.  This will greatly help in correctly identifying each plant

Like always, feel free to contact Master Gardener Lawn Care and we will come to your yard for a free lawn analysis.

Patrick Wesley is a Master Gardener and founder of Master Gardener Lawn Care located in Macomb County, Michigan.   Pat’s Company, Master Gardener Lawn Care, provides an organic based lawn fertilizing service in Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Washington Township, Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, Clinton Township, Warren, Sterling Heights in Macomb County, Rochester Hills, Troy Royal Oak, Berkley Huntington Wood in Oakland County and St Joseph, Benton Harbor, Coloma, Steve in Berrien County, Michigan.  Master Gardener Lawn Care was established in 1991 and provides lawn fertilizing service, core aeration, weed control, soil testing and insect control.  For more information on our lawn care and lawn fertilizing services or to request a free lawn care analysis please visit our Free Lawn Fertilizing Service Estimate page on the mastergardenerlawncare.com website