Organic Lawn Maintenance
We get it -- many homeowners take great pride in their lawn. If you're one of them, then you want to keep it looking its best. But we have to be careful about how we manage our lawns. Frequent synthetic fertilizer and pesticide applications can cause lasting damage. Lawn chemicals have been linked to rising cases of cancer in young dogs.
Keep Fido and the whole family safe by following these steps:
April: Healthy lawn starts with healthy soil. Get your soil tested.
Spring through mid-summer: Weed dandelions, plantain, unwanted grasses. When you mow, let clippings drop (don't bag).
Mid-August: Dethatch (every 2-3 years) to allow oxygen to reach the roots. If soil is compacted, hire a pro to core aerate (machine is unwieldy).
Mid-Aug to mid-Sep: Put down seed in bare and thin spots. Choose seed that suits your sun/shade. Tall fescue is a favorite for sun, fine fescue for shade. Use back side of rake to shake seeds down to make contact with soil. Keep soil moist, cover seed lightly with burlap, straw, compost, or topsoil. Allow 7-10 days to germinate. After 3 weeks, water weekly to encourage root growth.
Mow lawn at 3". Let clippings fall, rake leaves into flower beds, whatever is left mulch mow into lawn -- great fertilizer, reduces weeds and watering needs.
In the heat of Summer, let your lawn go dormant. No need to water, feed, or mow. It will come back with rain and cooler temps.
If you don't use the lawn, consider reducing it! Sure, it's great to walk on, but turfgrass is a nonnative monoculture with no environmental benefit. Replace lawn with native plants.