Organic Home Lawn Maintenance

Apply all natural Corn Gluten for pre-emergent weed and crabgrass control at this time (only if you are not overseeding). Apply a spring green-up fertilizer 12-3-3. Corn gluten needs to be applied every 4-8 weeks for optimum control.

Organic weed killer can be applied anytime you see weeds. You can hand pull existing weeds or use Espoma Herbicidal Soap for control. Ask your Turf and Gardening Store representative for additional methods of weed control.

Continue application of Corn Gluten for broadleaf weed and crabgrass control. Please note that Corn Gluten has an analysis of 9-0-0.

To control grubs: Milky Spore can be used to control grub damage. Applications for two years wil give you the amount of beneficial bacteria you will need for best results. After 2-3 years of application of Milky Spore, the spores are viable for approximately 20 years.

RECOMMEND: Milky Spore

Apply a professional, organic fertilizer for summer green-up. Organic fertilizers will not burn your grass and can be spread liberally throughout your lawn and even into your adjacent garden and plant bed areas. Not only will this feed your lawn slowly without risk of burn, but organic fertilizers also feed your soil. Also, during this summer period, look for fungal disease damage. Again, if you need help in identifying this disease damage, bring us photos or actual damaged turfgrass tissue, and we can help you with your specific program. If needed, you should apply broad spectrum, professional fungicide on problem areas.

RECOMMEND: Harmony 5-4-3 7% Calcium or 6-2-0 Milorganite with 4% Iron

Overseeding (Light Renovation)

1. Visit The Turf and Gardening Store and design a program to fit your needs and budget.
2. Mow your existing lawn to a maximum height of 2 inches. Do not collect the clippings. Begin aeration as soon as possible after mowing.
3. Apply SOLU-CAL (if needed) at approximately 6 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft. Drag and/or rake the freshly aerated soil plugs and the SOLU-CAL into the aerated holes throughout the lawn.
4. Apply The Turf and Gardening Store Professional (Starter) Fertilizer at approximately 7 lb. of fertilizer per 1,000 sq. ft. over your entire lawn area.
5. Apply Professional Blue-Tag Certified Southern Lawn Turfgrass Seed throughout all aerated areas at approximately 3-5 lb. of grass seed per 1,000 sq. ft.
6. Immediately after step 6, water (if possible) the entire renovated area thoroughly. This will help reduce seed loss to wind/rain, erosion and bird feasting.
7. Water (if possible) the entire renovated area (depending on natural rainfall) daily. Continue to water the entire area thoroughly for approximately 2 weeks until new turggrass is established. Once new lawn is established, water thoroughly once a week.

Heavy Seeding (Total Renovation)

1. Visit The Turf and Gardening Store and desig a program to fit your needs and&budget.
2. Mow your existing lawn to a very low height of approximately 2 inches. Please collect the clippings. Try not to allow them to fall onto existing lawn.
3. OPTIONAL: For total renovation, apply Round-Up Quik Pro at 1.5 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft on any/all existing turfgrass you plan to renovate. Wait 5 days and reapply where needed.
   MANDATORY:Aerate any/all areas you plan to totally renovate, slowly. Aerate slowly a minimum of 2 passes, 3 to 4 if necessary, while criss-crossing your pattern with each pass. Allow all soil plugs to remain as they fall on the lawn.
4. Apply SOLU-CAL (if needed) at approximately 12.5 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft. Drag or rake the freshly aerated soil plugs and the SOLU-CAL into the renovated area throughout your lawn.
5. Drag and/or rake your final lawn elevation to a smooth and mowable surface. Fill in low areas/depressions and remove excessive humps. Put your lawn's final surface into mowable condition.
6. Apply The Turf and Gardening Store Professional (Starter) fertilizer at approximately 7 lb. of fertilizer per 1,000 sq. ft. over the entire renovated lawn area.
7. Apply Professional Blue-Tag Certified Southern Lawn Turfgrass Seed throughout all aerated areas at approximately 6-10 lb. of grass seed per 1,000 sq. ft.
8. Immediately after step 7, water (if possible) the entire renovated area thoroughly. This will help reduce grass seed loss to wind/rain, erosion and bird feasting.
9. Water (if possible) the entire renovated area (depending on natural rainfall) daily. Continue to water the entire area thoroughly for approximately 2 weeks until turfgrass is established. Once new lawn is established, water thoroughly once a week.

Apply your late fall application of fertilizer while the soil temperatures are warm enough for your microbes to be active enough to break it down. 15-3-6 Organic will give you much needed organic matter while delivering much needed nitrogen.

RECOMMEND: 15-3-6 Organic

Winterizing your lawn is the most important application of the entire growing season. Unfortunately, synthetic fertilizers are all you can use at this time. Your microbial activity is too slow at cold temperatures to break the fertilizers down.

RECOMMEND: 32-0-7 or equal Professional Turf and Gardening Store Fertilizer