Late July has welcomed the growth and development of mature crabgrass once again on the lawns of Northern Illinois.  This annual ritual begins in late spring when the soil temps get above 60 degrees allowing the seed from last year's crop to germinate.  The plant begins a slow development process that really doesn't fully blossom until once the temps get above the 90 degree mark for several days in a row.  This usually occurs late July when the lack of moisture also assists in the thinning of desirable grasses leaving plenty of room for the crabgrass to fully expand.   This has happened every summer for thousands of years and will continue to do so for as long as anyone reading this will ever survive.  There are a lot of mis-identifications when it comes to spotting crabgrass so I would like to discuss a few identifiable characteristics .   Crabgrass in a thin area of turf just off of a curb .  Crabgrass is most commonly found along drive...

Bluegrass and Turf-type Tall Fescue Bluegrass and Turf-type tall fescue grass seed blends are both cool season grasses that can thrive in our cool humid growing zone.  One reason they are so popular in the green industry is because they produce rhizomes as part of their reproductive process.  What does this mean?  It means the plant sends out new shoots below ground to repair itself and reproduce across open areas in the lawn.  The picture above is a patch of lawn that died in the early heat and drought this summer.  As the cooler temperatures of August and September arrived, along with some much-needed rainfall, the surviving bluegrass plants began their process of reproducing.  The result is a fuller appearance of turf that will eventually fill in completely without any over-seeding.  This unique characteristic of these grass types is why experienced turfgrass professionals have preferred them for high-maintenance lawns. Many lawn...