Common Crabgrass

Scientific Name: Digitaria sp.

Short Description: Common crabgrass is typically composed of local ecotypes harvested from fields where crabgrass was allowed to naturalize.

Description: Common crabgass is a summer annual forage which produces excellent tonnage and quality when good fertility and adequate moisture are available.  It is best adapted to sandy soils and has no known toxicities to livestock. Depending on the the region where the native seed was harvested, common crabgrass will vary greatly in forage performance, persistence, and reseeding ability.  In general common crabgrass has the potential to produce sufficient haying and grazing for many months during the summer up until a killing frost.  Common crabgass responds well to nitrogen fertilizer and if allowed to form mature seedheads in late summer it has the potential to reseed itself for a crop the following summer. Although common crabgrass will persist without cultivation, it is generally a good practice to lightly disc the following spring to enhance the germination and stand in subsequent years.

Suggested Planting Management for Common Crabgrass

Tilled and Planted in Spring

1. Prepare the ground by discing and harrowing in spring. Firm soil to where a footprint leaves an impression 1/2".
2. Using a drill or seeder with small seed box is best, but a grain does work, plant seed shallow when soil temperatures reach 50ºF in the spring. 
3. When the grass begins to run apply nitrogen (50 to 100 lbs/acre).
4. Graze when grass reaches 6 to 8 inches.

Broadcast in Small Grains

1. Small grain forage such as rye, wheat, or triticale planted in the fall.
2. Broadcast a mixture of 3 to 5 Pure Live Seed pounds of crabgrass and fertilizer the following March through May. 
3. Graze out the small grain pasture.
4. Fertilize with nitrogen (50 to 100 lbs/acre) once the crabgrass begins to form runners.
5. Begin grazing once the grass reaches 6 to 8 inches in height.  Rotational grazing is best management to maximize quality and quantity.
6. Apply additional nitrogen fertilizer as needed and if precipitation is adequate.