Organic Lawn Care Calendar
Utilize the following procedures for a healthy lawn.
April |
- Rake (de-thatch)
- Aerate
- Apply organic fertilizer with corn gluten
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- After grass dries and snow has melted, give your lawn a hard rake with a flexible steel rake to remove dead grass.
- Core aeration, when the soil is not too dry, will remove small plugs of earth to decrease soil compaction, allowing air, water and fertilizer down to the root zone. Do not rake soil plugs. They break down naturally after a few rainfalls. Many weeds thrive in compacted soil, so aeration is very important! You can rent an aeration machine.
- Look for 100% all-natural organic fertilizer. Corn gluten acts as a natural fertilizer and though it does not kill existing weeds, it stops dandelions and crabgrass seeds from sprouting. Apply before weeds start appearing in the spring.
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May |
- Seed bare areas*
- Top dress with organic compost
- Hand pull weeds
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- If needed, make sure the soil or compost comes into contact with seeds by raking in gently. Keep seeds moist until well established (seven to 14 days).
- Spread compost evenly over entire lawn lightly. Organic fertilizers consist of compost or well-aged manure, which do not burn the grass like synthetic fertilizers.
- Cutting out weeds with roots intact is best accomplished when soil is moist.
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June |
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- Now is the best time to start watering your lawn. Water once a week for about an hour if it has not rained. By not watering earlier in the season, lawn roots will be forced to plunge deeper to find water resulting in healthier, more drought resistant roots.
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July |
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- During dry summer heat, taller grass blades provide shade to retain soil moisture and block sunlight from reaching weed seeds.
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August |
- Less watering
- Apply organic fertilizer with corn gluten
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- Allow the grass to go dormant (brown).
- This second application is beneficial, but not necessary. Use 100 per cent organic products, when possible.
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September |
- Overseed*
- Top dress with organic compost
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- Rake lawn first and overseed entire lawn – will result in a thicker lawn and crowd out weeds.
- Examples of composts are mushroom, seashell and soil from backyard composter.
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October |
- Aerate
- Organic fertilizer
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- Aerating again is very beneficial (as noted above) at this time but not necessary.
- This application is highly recommended in the fall. Promotes healthier deep root systems.
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* Seed/overseed bare areas no sooner than four to six weeks AFTER corn gluten is applied, as corn gluten reduces grass seed growth.
SOURCE: Niagara Healthy Environment Initiative
