🌱 Crabgrass Prevention in Howard County, MD

Stop crabgrass before it starts with professional pre-emergent control—timed perfectly for Ellicott City & Columbia lawns.

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✓ Since 1986
✓ Family Owned
✓ MDA Pesticide License #23902
✓ Prevention Guaranteed

What Is Crabgrass Prevention?

Crabgrass is an aggressive annual weed that can produce 150,000 seeds per plant. Once it appears in summer, it's too late to prevent—it must be stopped before it germinates.

Our pre-emergent crabgrass control creates a chemical barrier in the soil that stops seeds from sprouting. This gives you a clean, uniform lawn all season long.

The key is timing. Apply too early and the barrier breaks down before crabgrass germinates. Apply too late and the seeds have already sprouted.

[Image: Split-screen comparison showing crabgrass-infested lawn on left with patchy brown weeds versus healthy uniform green lawn on right in Columbia, MD]

⚠️ Don't Miss the Window!

Pre-emergent must be applied before soil hits 55°F—typically early March in Howard County. Once crabgrass sprouts, prevention no longer works. Missing this narrow window means dealing with crabgrass all summer.

What's Included in Our Service

Our crabgrass prevention service is science-backed and locally tuned for Howard County conditions:

🌡️

Soil Temperature Monitoring

We track real-time soil temps to apply at the perfect moment—never too early or too late for maximum effectiveness.

🛡️

Pro-Grade Pre-Emergent

Commercial herbicides with 10–12 weeks of residual control—far stronger than store brands that last 6–8 weeks.

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Spring Fertilization Combo

Applied with early-season nutrients in one visit for cost efficiency and optimal lawn health heading into spring.

✓

Full-Lawn Coverage

Calibrated spreaders ensure even application across your entire lawn—no gaps along driveways or sidewalks where crabgrass loves to grow.

[Image: Greenlawn technician checking soil temperature with digital probe in Ellicott City lawn, calendar showing early March in background]

When to Schedule Prevention

The ideal window is early to mid-March in Howard County—before soil at 2-inch depth reaches 55°F for 5+ consecutive days.

We begin monitoring in late February and contact you to lock in your optimal date based on actual soil conditions and weather forecasts. This proactive approach ensures we never miss the window.

Applying in April or later? That's post-emergent territory—and far less effective with higher costs and more repeated treatments required.

Why Prevention Beats Reaction

1

Saves Money

Pre-emergent costs $50–$100 for the entire season. Post-emergent summer treatments? $150–$400+ with multiple applications needed.

2

Better Results

Prevention achieves 90–95% control. Reactive post-emergent methods only reach 60–80% effectiveness at best.

3

Zero Summer Hassle

One spring application protects all season. No repeated treatments, no monitoring, no worrying—just a healthy lawn.

4

Prevents Next Year's Problem

Stop seed production before it starts. Each prevented plant means 150,000 fewer seeds in your soil—breaking the cycle for good.

Pricing Information

Typical Cost: $50–$100

For most residential lawns in Howard County

Your investment includes professional-grade pre-emergent herbicide combined with spring fertilization—delivered in one convenient visit.

Price varies by lawn size and current condition. We provide free, no-obligation estimates with no pressure to commit.

What affects pricing: Lawn square footage, accessibility, current weed pressure, and whether you're an existing customer with ongoing service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do this myself?
DIY often fails due to poor timing, weak products (6–8 weeks vs. our 10–12), and uneven coverage. Most homeowners save time and get better results with professional application. We monitor soil temps daily and have calibrated equipment for precise application.
What if I need to overseed in spring?
Pre-emergent blocks all seeds—including grass seed. We recommend fall overseeding instead, which works better in Maryland's climate and avoids timing conflicts. Fall seeding gives new grass time to establish before summer stress.
Is it safe for my existing lawn?
Yes! Pre-emergent only affects germinating seeds. Established grass like tall fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass is completely unaffected. Your existing lawn continues growing normally while crabgrass is prevented.
I already see crabgrass—can you help?
Pre-emergent won't work on sprouted crabgrass. We offer post-emergent treatments to limit spread this season, but your best bet is scheduling prevention for next March. We'll add you to our early notification list.
How long does the barrier last?
Our commercial-grade pre-emergent provides 10–12 weeks of protection, covering the entire crabgrass germination window in Howard County. Store-bought products typically last only 6–8 weeks, often breaking down before late germinators sprout.
Do you guarantee results?
Yes. If crabgrass appears after our pre-emergent application, we'll provide post-emergent treatment at no additional charge. Our 39 years of experience means we get the timing right the first time.

Complete Your Spring Lawn Care

Crabgrass prevention works best as part of a comprehensive program. Explore our related services: