Natural & Organic Lawn Care

So it's spring and after a long winter you just can't wait to get out there and work on the lawn. You have decided to switch to a more natural, chemical-free lawn regimen so you don't want to waste a minute ensuring the lawn is off to a strong start, so what do you do? Corn gluten? Fertilizer? Seed?

Take it easy at first

The best thing to do as winter breaks and the temperatures warm up for the season is wait.

Let the lawn emerge out of dormancy on its own and resist the urge to do anything during the early spring. If you are following a solid lawn care regimen, there should be some fertilizer lingering in the thatch layer and there should be a reserve of carbohydrates stored in the root system that the plant relies on for breaking dormancy and entering the spring growth period. So don't feel the need to rush out and fertilize as soon as the ground thaws.

Corn gluten meal has been suggested as an effective substitute for chemical crabgrass pre-emergent herbicides but the drawbacks of using corn gluten meal outweigh the effectiveness of it as a pre-emergent herbicide. Corn gluten meal is expensive, must be applied at a high rate (20lbs/1000 sq. ft.), and is not entirely effective in it's initial applications making it a perfect example of how organic products should not necessarily mirror conventional products in lawn care. The best natural defense against crabgrass is to establish and maintain a healthy soil that grows a healthy, dense lawn that out-competes weeds like crabgrass.

Do not go out there and vigorously rake the lawn like you might have done with a conventionally maintained lawn. Not using pre-emergent herbicide means using other means to prevent crabgrass infestations. Deeply raking or dethatching the lawn encourages weed seed germination so opt for a light raking to remove debris and continue to let the lawn wake up until mid-late spring when soil temperatures support biological activity.

Overseed, fertilize, repeat 

Conventionally maintained lawns that rely on pre-emergent crabgrass preventer miss out on the opportunity of spring seeding due to the herbicide's effect on all seeds, not just crabgrass. An organic or natural lawn care program calls for using the spring as an ideal time for overseeding and repairing bare patches or thinning turf.

Fertilize the lawn with full rate of organic fertilizer mid-late spring when the soil temperatures support soil and root activity. For a quick green-up use an organic based fertilizer with a small amount of ammoniacal nitrogen which is immediately available to the plant. While not 100% organic, it can jump-start the lawn into its active growing period without relying on an entirely synthetic fertilizer program.

What you should be working on

It's not all taking it easy in the spring, some of the other things you should be thinking about include: 

1. Ensuring there is adequate sunlight and air movement by evaluating nearby trees and pruning limbs if necessary. 
2. Aerating, especially compacted, high traffic areas. 
3. Note any drainage issues and address them.
4. Have your soil tested to ensure balanced pH and use lime or other soil amendments if necessary
5. Use high quality grass seed of the appropriate species and cultivars for your climate and growing environment while over seeding and repairing bare and thinning areas.
6. Consider topdressing with an organic compost in conjunction with aerating, overseeding and fertilizing for the ultimate spring kick-off.