It is pretty easy to tell if it is too late for crabgrass preventer. Go to the sunniest spot in your yard and look down. If there is no crabgrass growing yet, you should be ok applying now. If there is lots of crabgrass up and growing, you are too late for a preemergent to be effective. Personally, I would put it out either way because crabgrass will continue to germinate all spring, so you would at least be minimizing the weeds.

Hello folks. This is my first post, but I have found your comments in all the other forums helpful to a novice such as myself. I have a serious problem with my soil. Take in mind I don't own the property but would like a nice green lawn. The ground is hard as concrete and even after I have tilled it to a depth of approx. 10" the landlord was able to (easily) drive through it with his truck w/o getting mired up. I have put lime, Scotts starter fertilizer and Milorganite (sp?) on it and let it set for a couple of weeks to let it blend in. I have Scott's Tall Fescue (supposedly self repairing) and some clover I intend to put down with it. In addiction, there are seriously sunny spots and seriously shady spots. The sunny dries out very fast and leaves the ground hard so the seed (I planted in sections) doesn't come up or dies shortly thereafter) and an ugly green fungus or moss invades the shady spot. Is there an aerator product that someone can suggest (that is reasonably priced) that will help with the hard soil and the moss in the moist (shady) areas? Thank you for your comments and help. Harry

Might be good to put it down after the rain and then irrigate to activate it. The crabgrass could start to germinate soon and you want to get it down before it starts germinating. If you're using Dimension that has some post emergent effect on baby crabgrass so maybe waiting until the next rain would be okay. If the forsythia is blooming, that's the sign to get the pre-emergent down.

Thanks, mishmosh. I started working on this lawn last fall when I redid the area over by the wood fence. It came in good then the cold hit (central connecticut) and I began noticing all the dying crabgrass near it. This past spring I reseeded those areas and got 50/50 grass vs. annual grass weeds & crabgrass. Some other areas just outside of view in those pictures are mostly crabgrass and are looking pretty rough now. I am getting there and your recommendation will help in the spring. Thanks!