[cibula11]

Does it matter what product I use on a lawn in terms of crabgrass preventer? There's quite a difference in brand and while you usually get what you pay for, how much of this is actually true when it comes to fertilizer?

 

[SPS-1]

I suppose I am no expert, but I thought it was normally just corn gluten. (Its orange). Check the label for ingredients, if they both say corn gluten, I can't imagine there is much difference, but one might say 99% corn gluten, and the other might say 50% corn gluten. You need to put it down at the right time. Crabgrass seeds germinate when ground temp reaches 50 degrees (if memory serves me right) and the corn gluten is good for about 4 weeks. It stops any seeds from germinating. If you do a search, they say put down the crab-grass preventer when certain flowers start to bloom.

 

[cibula11]

Corn gluten is the natural way, but I was referring to Scotts, Vigoro, etc.

 

[SPS-1]

Read the label on the Scotts and Vigoro --- what is the active ingredient?

Corn Gluten in all likelihood.

 

[cibula11]

Uh no. Corn gluten is an organic substitute for chemical fertilizers. Not even an ingredient in synthetic fertilizers like Scotts. Active ingredient is
Pendimethalin

 

[SPS-1]

Up here, Scotts only sells Corn Gluten for crabgrass control. http://www.scotts.ca/smg/goprod/turf-builder-weed-prevent-corn-gluten-meal-herbicide/prod10190109

Likely the Pendimethalin is not legal here for cosmetic weed control. Few chemicals are.

But you seem to have answered your own question. If the two products you are looking at have the same active ingredient and the same concentration, go ahead and buy the cheaper one.