Crabgrass can be established easily from seed planted throughout the first two-thirds of the year or vegetatively for research trials.

There are two major planting syndromes: overseeding crabgrass in cool-season annual grasses such as wheat, and planting seed in a firm, fine seedbed. The first method can be used from midwinter through April; the second, from April in southern Oklahoma through mid-June anywhere in Oklahoma. Successful stands have come from plantings in July and very early August, but the risk of failure is high. September is too late to consider planting.

On good seedbeds, placing the seed on a rolled (cultipacked) seedbed and then rolling once more is best. Recommended seeding rates range from one to five pounds of pure live seed per acre; three pounds is a good median rate. Seed can be planted alone, but few producers have equipment capable of doing so and most plantings are made by blending seed with a bulk material such as dry fertilizer, sand, sawdust, or granulated lime. That mix then can be distributed through seeders, fertilizer spreaders, or drills. The seed should be on the soil surface or no deeper than one-half inch in the soil.

The crabgrasses respond favorably to proper tillage (soil renovation), which consists in relatively thorough off-season (fall to spring) surface tillage with tools such as disks, field cultivators, and sweep plows. The tillage does not have to be deep: 2 to 4 inches is adequate.

When properly done, tillage encourages early stand development, increased early-season production, and increased total production. Forage-production augmentation can be 25 to 50 percent and 2,000 to 3,000 pounds per acre.

Fields in a single-crop crabgrass regimen should be tilled in late winter to spring before active crabgrass seed germination (mid-March to April 1 in southern Oklahoma and April 15 in northern Oklahoma). The area should be dragged or rolled to refirm the soil. In a double-cropping regimen with cool-season annual grasses, tillage can be done during fall seedbed preparation, which helps crabgrass the next summer, but if it has not emerged by the end of the winter crop use, the area can be retilled. Spring tillage is the most important. If a crabgrass stand already exists, it is best not to disturb it. Double crops can be tilled in fall and spring, tilled only in fall, tilled only in spring, or left untilled. If the latter method is used, the grass emerges later and produces less, has more competition from other plants, and has a shorter stand lifespan. Bermudagrass, fescue, other perennials, and other vegetation become increasingly prevalent. In Oklahoma, no-till crabgrass stands may decline severely, but if they are well fertilized, rotationally grazed, and weeded, stands can last for many years.

Good natural crabgrasses and 'Red River' crabgrass respond to good soil fertility. Phosphorus, potassium, and lime should be supplied according to soil test results. Crabgrass responds well to nitrogen. A general rule of thumb is to supply 1 to 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per growing day. For example, in southern Oklahoma there are about 228 frost-free days, but of those, only 100 to 150 are growing days; i.e., days with adequate moisture, sunlight, and warmth. Thus, a conservative rate for southern Oklahoma is 75 to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Research work illustrates that in a typical season and on good soil, 'Red River' crabgrass continues to respond well to 150 to 200 pounds of nitrogen. Under irrigation and in split applications, double-cropped crabgrass can use 150 to over 200 pounds of nitrogen per season. Research indicates that 'Red River' crabgrass under irrigation can absorb up to about 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per day, thus having much potential as a forage in a nutrient disposal system such as that for poultry, swine, and cattle.

Crabgrass produces well on a wide range of soil pH, 5.0 to 7.5; 6.0 to 7.2 is ideal. Crabgrass grown at or over pH 8.0 often shows signs of iron chlorosis, especially during early cool weather, but this condition usually subsides during hot weather.