During the European Middle Ages, Digitaria sanguinalis was cultivated by Slavic peoples in Eastern Europe, where it was cooked in soups and porridges.

Crabgrass produces an exceptionally high amount of grain, it smothers other weeds, it acts as its own mulch, and it can survive both heat and drought.

[9] Its usefulness to nineteenth-century homesteaders has made its seed widespread, and today is generally considered an unattractive nuisance.

Crabgrass takes advantage of low fertility and drought, since this tends to weaken other grasses and it tends to invade manicured turf.

The most efficient means of control is to pull patches, and keep the rest of the lawn watered and mowed at a height of two to three inches.