Is there really such a thing as "all natural" lawn care?

[Anonymous]

This is our second summer with a lawn and I still know very little about how to properly care for it. Do non-toxic lawn treatments really work? Our lawn will probably need a lot of care this Spring to get it back in shape. I have two small kids who spend a good deal of time on the grass. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Well, we tried the corn gluten meal a few summers in a row, and I will say that it does not work. What I started doing is using a good pre-emergent crab grass control in early spring (March), then I re treat in June with the corn gluten meal. I try not to take too much risk w/ crabgrass since it is hard to kill one established.
Two weeds you have to kill (Round Up) are nut-sedge and violets. So those definitely do not do well w/ the organic stuff.

[Anonymous]

Our all natural method = let the weeds stay and just have it mowed regularly to keep it all uniform length. The weeds are green so they sort of blend in. Yes, they grow at a different speed (faster). But we have had dogs for years and are not comfortable using chemicals they will eat, and now that we have a LO it's even more of an issue. A weed is just a plant in the wrong place.

[Anonymous]

We do very little-- sometimes we use the corn gluten/fertilizer in the spring or fall. Note that some things, such as clover, which are now considered "weeds" used to be sold in seed mix because it is good for your lawn, but the lawn industry decided they could make more money by calling it a weed and having you buy fertilizer and weed killer.

Purdue recently did a study that found that organic works as well as chemicals, and doing nothing works almost as well as anything else. http://www.landscapemanagement.net/news-issues/news/purdue-researchers-compare-turfgrass-fertility-pes-10537

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I also accept some weeds. I mow high and let the clippings stay on the lawn to dry and fertilize. We leave clover and violets alone, I pull/dig dandelions and chickweed by hand (yes, we have a fairly small lawn but it's still a lot of work). I keep the violets out of the beds under the shrubs, but let them be in the lawn. I also don't care about crab grass (which is millet: if you have a bird feeder, you are going to get it), although I also keep it out of the beds under the shrubs.

So the answer is probably no if you want a golf course and yes if you just want something fairly evenly green that your kids can play on.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you want to minimize the toxic stuff, just go with the crab grass preventer in the sunny spots in early spring, follow with corn and selectively weed the rest.

[Anonymous]

I recommend the low-maintenance approach of being ok with weeds and crabgrass, too.

My parents always did this. The nice thing is, your kids will pick the violets and give you little tiny bouquets (so cute!); you can eat the young, tender dandelion shoots in the spring (very healthy, and they are expensive in the stores!); and you never have to worry about all the toxins getting onto your DCs. Thick, grass-only lawns look beautiful, but they are so bad for your health