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How to Manage Pests

Identification: Weed Photo Gallery

Large crabgrass

Scientific name: Digitaria sanguinalis Grass Family: Poaceae)

Life stages of Large crabgrass top picture bottom left picture bottom right picture

Click on image to enlarge

DESCRIPTION:
Large crabgrass is a widely distributed summer annual grass that germinates throughout the summer. However, new seedlings may begin to appear as early as February. Seedlings sprout quickly, forming a clump with extensive roots where soil is moist. The large crabgrass seedling is pale green and covered with coarse hairs. It has a membranous ligule and no auricles. Young leaves are rolled in the bud. Leaves unroll as they grow out of the center. Seedlings resemble those of witchgrass. Once established, it is difficult to remove because it roots from portions of lower stems. To differentiate the flowering stalk from that of bermudagrass, look for slender branches arising separately from the stalk. The flowers are held in 3-7 slender fingerlike branches on the end of the flowering stem. Plants form open clumps up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. Large crabgrass can be distinguished from smooth crabgrass (D. ischaemum) by its longer, narrower leaf, and presence of hairs.; it is most often found in turfgrass.

See UC IPM's Crabgrass Pest Note for more information.

Grass ID illustration.


Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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