grow a healthy lawn

by Kirsten Mortensen

Manufacturers of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers claim that, if you follow their guidelines, their products are safe to use. Still, many people would rather avoid these products on their lawns if they can—particularly people who have children or pets.

Fortunately, there are ways to grow a healthier lawn without using chemicals. Judy Prevratil, master gardener volunteer at the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension, offers these tips:

• Use compost. Leave your clippings when you mow; as they decompose, they’ll add nutrients to the soil. You can also top-dress your lawn by lightly spreading it with bagged compost.

• Cut only the top third of your grass.

• Cut your grass only when it’s dry.

• Keep your mower blades sharp.

• Water early in the morning. Watering in the evening, particularly if it’s warm and humid, can encourage diseases. Watering during the day isn’t a good idea, either, because much of the water will evaporate before it sinks into the ground. Watering between 5 and 7 a.m. is best.

Prevratil also recommends you plant the right type of grass. If your lawn gets a lot of shade, for example, you should plant a type of grass that does well in shade. (The Cooperative Extension can help you decide what type of grass to choose. Call them at 585-461-1000 or stop by their office at 249 Highland Avenue.)

Perhaps the biggest challenge of a chemical-free lawn is weed control. However, there are things you can do that will help. One is to cut your grass high—3-4 inches. Taller grass crowds out weeds and shades weed seeds, which helps prevent them from germinating.

You can also hand-weed to remove perennial weeds like dandelions.

Another option is corn gluten. Corn gluten is a byproduct of cornstarch production that acts as a natural preemergent herbicide — it inhibits root growth of newly sprouted seeds. (It’s also a 10-0-0 slow release fertilizer.) The type I use (sold by Bristol’s farm market in Victor) is pelleted, so it spreads easily using an inexpensive spreader.

Finally, there’s that miracle organic standby, vinegar. Although the household variety will probably not be effective because it only contains about 5% acetic acid, garden vinegar with 20% acetic acid is now available at garden centers and elsewhere. Sprayed in the right amount on pesky weeds, it can be a highly effective weed killer. But be careful where you spray -- it’s nonselective, so it can also kill grasses and other plants you want to keep!

Winning against weeds takes time and patience, however—and if you do decide on a chemical-free lawn, chances are you’ll have to learn to live with some weeds. But by following these tips, your lawn will be so lush and green, what does it matter if there are a few weeds here and there?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kirsten Mortensen is a Rochester writer and co-author of Outwitting Dogs, Lyons Press, 2004. www.outwittingdogs.com.