How to Kill Crabgrass Around Plants

Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) is an annoying summer annual that can pop up in lawns, vegetable gardens and flowerbeds. It spreads via seeds and root nodes that appear on the soil, and has an aggressive nature. Depending on the species, crabgrass can reach heights between 6 and 24 inches with smooth or hairy grasslike leaf blades. You can control crabgrass growing around plants with either chemical or manual methods.

Chemical Control


Select a ready-to-use herbicide formulated to kill postemergent crabgrass. One such product contains the active ingredient ammoniated soap of fatty acids.


Wait until a calm, dry day when rain is not in the forecast for at least 24 hours. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves.


Apply the herbicide exactly as instructed on the product's label. Hold a piece of cardboard in front of desirable plants within reach of the crabgrass. The cardboard acts as a protective shield preventing the herbicide from coming in contact with the desirable plants.


Spray the crabgrass before it reaches 5 inches tall thoroughly with the herbicide. Ensure that the entire plant is covered with the solution but not to the point of runoff.


Reapply the herbicide in the same manner once every two to three weeks as needed. Store the unused herbicide in the original container in an area out of the reach of children and animals, and away from open flames.

Manual Control


Use a small garden shovel to dig the crabgrass out of the ground near plants. Place the crabgrass in a plastic bag, and fill in the hole where the weed was removed with the surrounding soil.


Apply the corn gluten meal around the plants with your gloved hands. Use at a ratio of 3 pounds of corn gluten meal for every 100 square feet of bed.


Use your hand or a small garden shovel to carefully incorporate corn gluten meal into the soil. Dampen the soil lightly with a water hose set on mist. Repeat the treatment every 60 days to prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating.