Traditionally, the residential lawn has represented somewhat of a status symbol for the neighborhood, as the homeowner with the sharpest looking turf was the envy of all. In past decades mankind did not give a lot of thought to what they applied to their turf, going straight for what I call “murder, death, kill” products, both frequently and with reckless abandon. As someone who has some OCD tendencies and also loves some nice weed-free healthy green turf at home, I am here to tell you that a naturally healthy lawn can be achieved without turning your property into a hazardous waste dump site.
I never want to guilt any gardener when dropping advice, but this is a very personal subject matter for me, so apologies but I may guilt-trip just a bit. I have always loved my lawn, as many do, and taken pride in its healthy emerald green color and lack of weeds. To me this comes down to time and effort (like many things in life, we get out what we put into it) and this of course rings true with many aspects of gardening. Simply put, use only natural products and learn to live with a little imperfection, as when weighed against the consistent use of chemicals, it is just not worth it.
Many folks, admittedly not me, allow their turf to brown out over our dry summers, conserving water and thus, in turn, their bank accounts. It is your lawn of course, and I would never speak poorly about anyone who chooses this route. As fall approaches and more rain beckons on the horizon, the resilient creature that is grass will most often bounce back to life after going dormant. The questions I get asked most frequently are about how one can help turf recover and fill back in come fall - I don’t think anyone wants the muddy, slippery, dead look over winter. So, OCD lawn guy is here to give you some tips to use this fall that will help that lawn bounce right back, resulting in healthy green winter turf.
Weeds: Phase one is always to rid the lawn of weeds, but this is ultimately up to you and your own tolerance as some gardeners don’t mind the dandelions, buttercups, clover, and other treasures that tend to pop up here and there. Again, please, please, please don’t use “weed and feed” of any kind. If I could ban one thing from our lovely planet it would be bags of this crappy synthetic fertilizer mixed with chemical harmful herbicides. If you need to press the reset button and utilize a chemical once or twice to catch up on weeds, get a liquid not a granular product. Focus your spray only where it is needed and do not broadcast chemicals over the entire yard. As long as you apply on a sunny day and let it dry it before re-entering the area, exposure is kept to a minimum. Natural lawn liquid herbicides like “Captain Jack’s Lawnweed Brew” from Bonide is the way I go - it’s an iron based herbicide that works on most common weeds, and as a bonus it kills moss, lichens and algae as well. Long story short, grass can absorb a massive amount of iron, broadleaf weeds cannot, so this is the “organic” option. Go natural and feel safe when you, your children, your pets, wildlife, and birds are out in the garden please!
Thatching: To me this is always the number one thing you can do to rejuvenate turf, period. Cut the lawn down as low as you can and then rent a machine, or have a company come do it for you in September. A good power thatching removes all the “thatch” (dead brown grass that has accumulated on the soil surface) as well as weak grass and debris. After doing this, you will probably be shocked with the mountain of fluffy debris that is left. Be sure to rake this up and you should be left with a clean slate of brown and a touch of green. Now the fun part can begin…
Feeding & Over-seeding: Utilize a good quality, PNW sun and shade seed mixture of ryegrass and fescue. Depending on how much grass is left after thatching, you should plan on 1 to 2 pounds of over-seed per 1,000 square feet. Lightly hand sprinkle this out evenly, more on bare areas and less in spots that still have some grass. Two more things should also be applied with the seed, organic lawn food and lime. By using organic lawn food you are feeding the grass and your soil, and there is zero chance of burning fresh seed. In fall it is essential to feed your lawn with organic food, whether you do all this or not, get the fertilizer applied in September! Using synthetic food will burn the new turf, as that much nitrogen is simply not needed. Lime is also an ideal amendment for turf as it will bring the pH of your lawn areas up a bit from acidic to more neutral/alkaline. Moss likes acidity, while turf likes alkalinity – which one do you prefer? By getting in the habit of applying natural lime in the spring and fall, you will greatly reduce your potential for moss. After these three magical ingredients are down (seed, organic food, lime), the most important final step is covering it up with just a smidge (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of quality compost or seed cover. If you don’t do this the seed will dry out, birds will snack on it, and you will ultimately have to start the whole process all over again. Do this and you will have peach fuzz in a week and an absolutely glowing green new lawn in just a few weeks. Please don’t use peat moss as seed cover – this is an acidic amendment which means more moss down the road.
As we round the corner of summer and head towards the cooler (and yes, wetter) days of fall, it is an ideal time to renovate the lawn. Take advantage of the warm days, cooler nights and precipitation on the horizon. Formulate your own battle plan to get this done in September. Don’t hesitate to stop into your local garden center and speak with a Certified Professional Horticulturist, allowing them to show you your options and steer you towards healthy, natural turf grass. Do the right thing by going green with natural products and you will have some seriously sweet looking grass going forward and you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy inside for doing the right thing for our environment.
