****Update****
Due to impending rain and Amazon being sold out we did not try the Espoma Organic Fertilizer this fall. We used Lesco again this year, because we were able to quickly purchase it at Home Depot. I researched every ingredient it, and could not find anything of major concern.
With better planning, we might still try the Espoma fertilizer in the Spring, or I might decide to get thrifty, and try making my own fertilizer.
Lesco MSDS
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It's that time of year again to get those lawns prepped for next year, and keeping them chemical free is just as important. My kids play in the grass everyday. They roll, they scavenge and they play every kind of sport imaginable in the grass. The grass touches their skin, the toys they pick up and the shoes they track inside. Unless you keep your family locked up inside; exposure is unavoidable.
Now, if your lawn is currently dominated by weeds I do not have a solution for you. I wish I had a chemical free solution to get rid of weeds that I had tested myself, but it wasn't until last year that we started keeping the chemicals off of our lawn, and at that point we had already corrected all of our weed problems.
When we first moved into our home our yard soon became infested with weeds. We had to spray all kinds of toxic chemicals on it to get rid of them, and decided to just keep the kids off of the lawn for a couple weeks. This is the only weed treatment option I can offer you, but once your lawn is weed free I can show you how to maintain it without any chemicals. There are chemical free treatment options out there, though, so if anyone has had success with one please share.
This is our actual lawn, and for how much it is punished by the sun during the summer, I think it has done pretty well for being chemical free for over a year now.
Fall
Once temperatures start to hold below 80F it is time to prep your lawn for next year. You don't want to lay any fertilizers on it too early, as the hot temperatures might burn up your grass.
Seeding and Fertilizing
Around the end of September I would start by seeding and fertilizing your lawn. To get the lawn ready for application, I would start by digging up any large patches of weeds you were not able to remove during the summer. You want to make sure you pull the whole root out, because this is what contains the seeds.
Now you are ready to seed and fertilize. This year we are going to try Espoma Organic Fall Fertilizer; apply as directed. You can purchase this on Amazon with free shipping.
When purchasing a grass seed for your lawn you need to decide what type of grass is best for your climate zone and sun exposure.
When picking out a brand of grass seed you need to find which one has the least amount of weeds. They all contain some weeds. We normally use Scott's tall fescue from either Lowe's or Home Depot.
Don't worry about getting a seed with extra moisture lock coatings. I have not been able to notice a difference.
Pay attention to the expiration dates, and purchase the freshest bag. This will give you the best seed.
Once you have laid the seed and fertilizer, I would take some top soil and dust it over any bare patches of grass. This will help the seed from washing away.
Continue to water the lawn at least 3 times a week. I would recommend watering in the morning before the sun comes up. When you water at night you run the risk of developing mold, and if you water after the sun has come up the soil doesn't have time to absorb all of the water before it evaporates.
Mowing
You can slowly start to cut back your grass height at this point. I would cut it back an inch at a time. The lowest I would cut before the winter is 2-2.5". You don't want to cut too much off at a time because this can traumatize the grass.
Lyme
Finally, sometime in November, I would lay down some pelletized Lyme. You don't want to lay Lyme anytime close to fertilizing because they will mix, causing a caustic chemical reaction, and it will burn up your lawn.
Spring
Once you see the first blooms of spring it is time to lay down more seed and fertilizer. You want to get the lawn growing thick and lush before any weeds have a chance to grow. Wherever light gets through weeds will grow.
Seeding and Fertilizing
Follow all of the same steps for seeding and fertilizing as you did in the fall. This time it is important that you get a slow releasing fertilizer though. This will keep your lawn growing strong for longer, so that weeds do not have a chance to take over.
Last year we used Lesco Starter Fertilizer from Home Depot, and we were happy with the results. It was the only slow releasing formula we could buy locally that didn't have warning labels on it. Next Spring, though, I think we will try Espoma Organic Spring Fertilizer found on Amazon just to spice it up a bit.
Start to water at least twice a week at this point. You want to keep your lawn growing thick for when it starts to warm up, so that weeds won't push their way in.
Summer
Once Summer starts, start watering your lawn at least 3 times a week.
You don't want to lay anything else on your lawn once temperatures start to get above 80F. During the Summer you just want to maintain the lawn you have.
Mowing
Mow your lawn at the highest height possible. This will keep the roots shaded, and prevent weeds from growing. Wherever light gets through, weeds have the chance to grow.
Don't edge your lawn. My HOA will probably hate me for saying this, but I think they would rather my lawn be weed free, than for it to be well groomed. When you edge around your lawn you are not only traumatizing the grass, but allowing for light to get through and for weeds to form. Blow or sweep out any grass clippings from around the edges of your lawn, and trim any grass with the weed wacker to the same height as the rest of your lawn.
Weed Control
To keep the weeds under control you want to start to pick them out by the root as soon as you start to see them grow. If you let them grow for too long the roots will be too deep to easily pull. To do this I carry a plastic bag on my mower, and pick any weeds while I mow. Taking a couple extra minutes to mow the lawn, saves me a lot of extra work later on. Leave any deep rooted clumps of weeds to dig out in the fall; they won. If you dig them out now you will just leave a bare patch for more weeds to fill in, and so on, and so on.
Yes, that is an electric mower you see. Now, I know my neighbors think I am crazy, and If you already have a perfectly good lawn mower I wouldn't suggest scrapping it, but if you are in the market I would highly recommend an electric mower. We bought it because we were tired of dealing with gas and oil, and we were surprised at how well it cuts. The chord takes some getting used to, but it has lasted us almost 4 years now, is maintenance free, and you don't have toxic fumes off-gassing in your garage.
Patches of clover can be tricky to pull because they are so fragile and weaved into with the grass. To get rid of clover follow this simple recipe:
1 cup boiling water
3 Tbsp. Borax
Spray Bottle
Dissolve Borax in boiling water. Let cool. Pour into spray bottle. Dampen clover leaves with spray. The instructions I used told me to spray the clover until the leaves were dripping, but this slightly burned the grass, so I think that is too much. I would just come back and spray some more in a couple days for any clover left over.
-Nutsedge
Nutsedge is a fast growing bright green looking grass. Don't be fooled, though, this is not grass; pick it. Nutsedge will grow faster than the rest of your lawn, and in two days time, will leave your lawn looking unkept. It is very easy to pick, so just get rid of it.
-15 Common Lawn and Garden Weeds
Additional Resources:
5 Reasons Not to Use Weed and Feed
Toxic Lawns
Investigating Brown Spots
Dangerous Lawn Chemicals
