Large Crabgrass

What it looks like

Has hairy leaves and stems with a burgundy tint, sprawling low and rooting wherever the stems touch soil, which lets it spread quickly into thick mats. It's easy to confuse with smooth crabgrass, but that type is hairless and doesn't root along the stems. Goosegrass is another look-alike, but it has a silvery center where the blades meet.

Often mistaken for: Smooth crabgrass, goosegrass

When it shows up in the Triangle

Shows up as the weather warms in spring, usually from March into early May here in the Triangle.

Where you’ll see it

Common in thin, bare, or stressed spots in both cool- and warm-season home lawns.

What you can do

• Keep your lawn thick and healthy so there's less bare ground for it to move into
• Mow at the right height for your grass type instead of cutting too short
• Avoid pushing extra growth in summer, which can favor this weed over your turf
• Check bare or thin areas often since this crabgrass spreads fast once it takes root
• Pull or dig up small patches early before the stems root and spread further