How to kill weedy yard with minimal toxicity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What is your goal for your lawn? Does it have to look golf-course perfect, or is ok to have clover, violets, and the occasional dandelion?

How big is your yard?

How much sun does your yard get?


Would like a fairly thick cover b/c my kids will play in it but totally fine to have some clover (which I'll let go), dandelions (which I'll pick), etc. Not looking for the yard of the month ... once grass is established I'll do the normal seasonal upkeep ... pre-emergent in spring, fertilize & overseed in the fall, but not the bi-monthly application program.

The part I'm talking about is probably 0.10 acre. The half with the weed problem gets fairly full sun until ~4pm when it become shaded.

I would stay away from the pre-emergents. It's like a six month 1/2 life. Most of them targets crabgrass. Just seed and mow high. Also, with pre-emergents you really do not want to disturb the soil because it brings up more seeds..no ranking, aerating, or seeding(pre-emergent stop seed germination). It say so on the package. It also says this...so if your kids are going to be using the lawn know what you are putting down and do it properly.

CAUTION
Harmful if absorbed through the skin. Causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Wash with soap and water after handling. Do not graze animals in treated areas. Do not feed livestock treated forage. Keep out of reach of children.
Contact with eyes may cause irritation.
May cause skin irritation in susceptible persons. Possible gastrointestinal tract irritation.
May cause irritation of respiratory tract.
Inhalation of dust may aggravate asthma. Skin, Inhalation, Ingestion, Eyes

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/69/69b3ebc1-ac58-45c9-bb54-43eec21c9f19.pdf

[Anonymous]

1. Improve the Soil
The first step is to test the soil's pH - it should read between 6.5 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic. Soil that is too acidic will need a sprinkling of lime; sulfur can be added to soil which is not acidic enough. You can buy a pH tester (see below, this page) for $40 - $60. Another solution is to have your soil tested professionally; first call your extension office - they often provide soil testing as a free service.

Lawns grow best in loamy soils that have a mix of clay, silt and sand. Too much clay in the soil mix, or heavy use, can compact the soil and prevent air and nutrient flow. Compacted soil may need aeration, a process of lifting small plugs of turf to create air spaces in the soil. For best results, rent an aerator or hire a lawn service to do the job - this will remove "finger size" plugs which improves aeration. Aeration is best done before top dressing and fertilizing.

Organic matter, such as compost and grass clippings, will benefit any type of soil; it lightens soil which is heavy in clay, and it builds humus in sandy soils, which helps retain water and nutrients. Some lawn mowers are equipped with mulching attachments which break up the clippings and disperse them as you mow.
2. Choose a Locally Adapted Grass
Grasses vary in the type of climate they prefer, the amount of water and nutrients required, shade tolerance and the degree of wear they can withstand. Ask your local garden center to recommend grass which is best adapted to your area.

3. Mow Often, but Not Too Short
Giving your lawn a "Marine cut" is not doing it a favor. Surface roots become exposed, the soil dries out faster and surface aeration is reduced. As a general rule, don't cut off more than one-third of the grass at any one time. Most turf grass species are healthiest when kept between 2.5 and 3.5" tall.

When the lawn is finished growing for the season, cut it a bit shorter to about 2". This will minimize the risk of mold buildup during winter.

4. Water Deeply but Not Too Often
Thorough watering encourages your lawn to develop deep root systems which make the lawn hardier and more drought-resistant. Let the lawn dry out before re-watering; as a rule of thumb, the color should dull and footprints should stay compressed for more than a few seconds. When watering, put a cup in the sprinkler zone; it should get at least one inch (2.5cm) water. Most healthy lawns require only 1" of water per week.

The best time for watering is early morning - less water will be lost to evaporation. Ideally, it's better to water the first half-inch or so, then wait for an hour or two before watering the second half-inch.

5. Control Thatch Build-Up
Thatch is the accumulation of above-soil runners, propagated by the grass. This layer should be about 1/2" ( 1.25cm) on a healthy lawn, and kept in balance by natural decomposition, earthworms and microorganisms. Too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. Before resorting to renting a dethatcher, however, effort should be made to improve aeration to control thatch buildup. Aeration brings microorganisms to the surface that will eat most of the thatch. If you don't aerate, the roots stay near the surface, contributing to thatch buildup. When you aerate once a year it breaks down the thatch, allowing the roots to get deeper in the soil. This leads to thicker grass which naturally kills weeds too. While a dethatcher will reduce thatch buildup, it can strip and thin the grass so much it reduces competition for weeds allowing them to germinate easier. You can also reduce thatch with a steel rake.


How long can you wait between waterings before the lawn starts to go brown?

12 - 21 days: Bahia grass, Buffalo gass, Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, Centipede grass
8 - 12 days: Carpet grass, Fine fescue, Kikuyu grass, Seashore paspalum, Tall fescue, Zoysia
5 - 7 days: Ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Bentgrass

The fine-leaved fescues (grass blades) as well as the "common" types of Kentucky bluegrasses, such as Park and Kenblue, require less water, fertilizer and cutting than turf-type perennial ryegrass or many of the newer "improved" types of Kentucky bluegrass.

http://eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_care.htm

Etc...

Mowing cool-season grass 3 inches high is just as effective as using herbicides to suppress crabgrass, if not more so, according to research from the University of Maryland. Set your mower blade to its highest level. Just be sure to keep it sharp—dull blades leave ragged edges on the grass blades, which allows rapid evaporation of water and makes the grass more susceptible to infection. Mow often, because you never want to cut off more than one-third of the grass blades at a time.

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/practical-beauties-watering-cans

Most people are not going to do this...even if it is less work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy a goat.

Can I rent one?

Yes, you can. I am serious. Look around on Google.

[Anonymous]

So... basically no one has any good suggestions on how to get rid of existing weeds without chemicals. Lots of talk, not lots of actual strategies from those "I hate spraying" people. Even the long quote that was posted really doesn't address large swaths of existing weeds, more how to keep it good when it's new or already decent, or deal with one-off weeds.

Not surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So... basically no one has any good suggestions on how to get rid of existing weeds without chemicals. Lots of talk, not lots of actual strategies from those "I hate spraying" people. Even the long quote that was posted really doesn't address large swaths of existing weeds, more how to keep it good when it's new or already decent, or deal with one-off weeds.

Not surprised.

Sure people did.

1. Pull them.
2. Smother them.

Both are highly effective methods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So... basically no one has any good suggestions on how to get rid of existing weeds without chemicals. Lots of talk, not lots of actual strategies from those "I hate spraying" people. Even the long quote that was posted really doesn't address large swaths of existing weeds, more how to keep it good when it's new or already decent, or deal with one-off weeds.

Not surprised.

Sure people did.

1. Pull them.
2. Smother them.

Both are highly effective methods.

I have restored my front lawn after years of neglect by pulling weeds and using Scott's per emergent weed fertilizer.
I am sure can be done but if you are that opposed to chemicals then might as well lay down new sod but even then would still need to use fertilizer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So... basically no one has any good suggestions on how to get rid of existing weeds without chemicals. Lots of talk, not lots of actual strategies from those "I hate spraying" people. Even the long quote that was posted really doesn't address large swaths of existing weeds, more how to keep it good when it's new or already decent, or deal with one-off weeds.

Not surprised.

Look here, Mrs. Crankypants, I did post about how you can boiling water over errant weeds growing here and there. Are you OP?

I'll answer again in an attempt to pacify you; if you are so inclined, I imagine you could research a way to spray boiling water directly on the weedy areas. Is there a commercially available product for such purpose? I do not know. Could you retrofit your garden hose for such purposes? Possibly. I'm no engineer, but if you have the initiative, try pumping boiling water on the affected areas. How, exactly, is up to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy a goat.

Can I rent one?

Yes, you can. I am serious. Look around on Google.

check out eco-goats. (www.eco-goats.com)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So... basically no one has any good suggestions on how to get rid of existing weeds without chemicals. Lots of talk, not lots of actual strategies from those "I hate spraying" people. Even the long quote that was posted really doesn't address large swaths of existing weeds, more how to keep it good when it's new or already decent, or deal with one-off weeds.

Not surprised.

Look here, Mrs. Crankypants, I did post about how you can boiling water over errant weeds growing here and there. Are you OP?

I'll answer again in an attempt to pacify you; if you are so inclined, I imagine you could research a way to spray boiling water directly on the weedy areas. Is there a commercially available product for such purpose? I do not know. Could you retrofit your garden hose for such purposes? Possibly. I'm no engineer, but if you have the initiative, try pumping boiling water on the affected areas. How, exactly, is up to you.

OP here, for the record, I am not the PP to whom you're referring. Though I generally agree that it seems the best way to 'start over' is to just spray - hopefully only once - and then replant (seed or sod) and maintain w/ more natural techniques in the future. The cardboard smothering technique seems plausible, though I'm sure my neighbors will not be thrilled to see my cardboard lawn for months. I guess it is what it is ... I have to determine where on the Green spectrum I fall. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Anonymous]

if I had money to spend, I would pay someone to dig up my existing lawn and bring in new sod. Then you can just care for that nice grass however you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have restored my front lawn after years of neglect by pulling weeds and using Scott's per emergent weed fertilizer.
I am sure can be done but if you are that opposed to chemicals then might as well lay down new sod but even then would still need to use fertilizer.

No, you do not need to use fertilizer. Especially you don't need to use fertilizer if there is clover in your lawn.

It's also a bad idea to fertilize and herbicide at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I have restored my front lawn after years of neglect by pulling weeds and using Scott's per emergent weed fertilizer.
I am sure can be done but if you are that opposed to chemicals then might as well lay down new sod but even then would still need to use fertilizer.

No, you do not need to use fertilizer. Especially you don't need to use fertilizer if there is clover in your lawn.

It's also a bad idea to fertilize and herbicide at the same time.

Disagree, based on my experience and results with new sod and restoring front lawn that I pulled clovers out and reseed and used fertilizer application.

I will post picture. Everyone has different results due to different methods.