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Posted: May/24/2006 12:26 PM PST
I'm starting to think that my best bet at building a green, weed-free lawn is to focus on making the grass as healthy as possible, so that it can successfully compete against weeds. I'd like to avoid excessive use of chemicals, although I'm willing to use some if I have to. Can anyone recommend a good (preferably organic) lawn fertilizer and/or weed-killer? The grass is a standard mix of mid-atlantic varieties. The weeds are the usual suspects: mainly dandelions, wild onion/garlic, crab grass, clover, and others. Very grateful for any advice! Thanks. |
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Posted: May/24/2006 1:50 PM PST
Corn gluten meal is supposed to be an organic weed 'n feed product. It's a pre-emergent weed killer that causes the weed seedling to dry up and die. You'll need to get your existing weeds out though with conventional methods. The best thing I ever did to fertilize my lawn was to rake in a good organic compost. It greened right up and helped hold in moisture. Rake it in good to about an inch deep. |
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Posted: May/24/2006 1:54 PM PST
Interesting! I'll have to do some research on corn gluten meal. Regarding compost... I'm just starting to look into composting, but I haven't gotten a pile going yet. Is it possible to buy compost? And when you say an inch deep... Do you really mean that a full inch above the existing ground should be covered with compost?? That's a lot of compost for a big lawn! |
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Posted: May/24/2006 3:20 PM PST
There are many organic lawn fertilizers available based from chicken manure. Or you could just use cracked corn or alfalfa meal grains as a fertilizer. But as far as organic weed killers go, there really aren't any. Compost is readily available by the bag at the big box stores. |
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Posted: May/24/2006 4:07 PM PST
It is a lot of compost! I have a small lawn so I can do it with under 10 cu. ft. of compost. I buy it by the bag--fortunately I found a great company of organic products and their compost is the best. I've also noticed it's more compressed than other composts so I get more for the money. You can also have compost delivered by the cubic yard--much cheaper, but I didn't like the quality. It's composted from yard trimmings so it was too woody. I rake it in really well with a leaf rake. If you have a large lawn, it's probably not a practical solution, unless you have a big family there in Joisey to help. |
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Posted: May/28/2006 6:13 AM PST
If you have a lawn of any size trying to layer it with composted soil will be time consuming and expensive. I'd suggest any typical lawn fertilizer making two applications a year, once in the spring and again in early autumn. Don't collect your grass clippings. They add nitrogen to the soil after cutting. Wood ashes supply potash, a necessary plant nutrient. |
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Posted: May/28/2006 3:13 PM PST
Thanks for all the tips. As far as the compost goes... I went to Home Depot, and they had "organic topsoil", which claims to have the maximum possible number of microorganisms, as well as composted manure. Would either of those work, or should I look elsewhere? Also, how do folks feel about lime? |
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Posted: May/28/2006 3:44 PM PST
I love it in margaritas!  Everyone will tell you to have your pH tested first before adding lime. In the Northwest our soil is so acidic that we can never overlime. I used topsoil from Lowes to patch a bare spot and the seed never sprouted. Don't know about the manure, but I think a friend used it with good results. I fertilized my lawn in March with an organic fertilizer (chicken manure-based...PU!) but the grass looks pale and sparse, even after a week of solid rain. I'm going to buy my compost today and spend Memorial Day raking it in--should only take an hour or so with my lawn. The reason I recommended compost is my lawn really liked it. The grass was very healthy soon after using it. I hope it also helps to hold moisture in, but with just an inch of compost, that might be wishful thinking. |
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Posted: Oct/06/2012 5:39 AM PST
I think that you should use Brightman's Best organic weed killer, they are on facebook with alot of info. I have used it and am very happy with it. |
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