Every weed tells a story about your soil. Crabgrass likes compact soil. Cinquefoil likes poor dry soil. Dandelions like high pH. Use your soil test as a guide to make conditions favorable to turf and unfavorable to weeds. Many plants you might consider weeds are beneficial to your lawn and useful to humans. For example, clover helps make nitrogen available in the soil, and plantain can be applied to the skin to soothe insect bites. And a diversity of species leads to lawns that are more hardy.
Month: June 2010
Feed your Lawn Lightly
Use organic compost or organic fertilizer. Do this only in spring or early fall, otherwise you’ll be feeding your annual weeds.
Say no to Pesticides
Caring for your lawn without synthetic chemicals is easy and doesn’t have to be costly. You’ll be pleased with the results, especially if you aren’t in a big hurry to achieve that “golf course” look, or if you enjoy the pleasant naturalized color and texture variation that comes with a healthy mixture of plants.
Read the Labels!
Before you purchase a lawn product, read the whole label. The label contains ingredient lists, safety and handling information, and instructions for use and disposal. If the product says it is a hazard to humans or the environment, it is best to avoid it.
Lawn Tip – Dont Mow to Low!
This is easiest way to ensure the health of your lawn through the summer. When in doubt, just raise the mower all the way to its tallest setting. You never want to cut more than about one-third of your grass in any single session. Yes, this does mean you’ll need to mow with a little more regularity, but don’t fret: the growth of your lawn will slow considerably as the temperature average goes up. By maintaining a tall lawn, you deter weed growth and allow the grass to root deeper into the soil.