Natural Lawn Care

Instead of ripping out the dandelions, look up recipes for eating them. They have many medicinal properties. Oh you can look that up too.

Dear D.-

I feel your dandelion pain!!

I AM convinced that if 'we' made the dandelion our 'national flower'...it would immediately become 'difficult' to grow...or at least more appreciated! lol

Best luck!
michele/cat

I don't know of anything you can concoct yourself, and nothing that can be used to treat the whole lawn that will handle already-established weeds. But I've heard people who claim very good results with spreading corn gluten over lawn or garden to prevent new seeds from sprouting. It's only real drawback is that it can become a little smelly as it naturally "composts" on the ground.

If interested, there's a company called Gardens Alive that sells this and other natural/non-toxic lawn and garden products, or you can google "corn gluten" for other sources.

Good luck!

Theresa N. is correct. The only way to do it iwith no chemicals, etc is pure sweat equity. Pull out the ENTIRE weed, root and all, one by one.

There is a local company, Pure Prairie Organics (Lawn Care) that puts things like gypsum, etc on your lawn. When you have weeds, it is because they are giving something to the soil that is lacking- it's this big symbiotic relationship- they give, they take... so you can tell what your lawn needs based on what kinds of weeds you have growing.

Dandelions, as someone else mentioned, are great edibles. Use the greens in salads and roast the roots and steep them like tea for great detoxing properties. :)

I've just started to take care of my lawn organically, too, since the chemicals weren't doing too much to make my lawn look nicer anyway! I just put down 2 types of organic fertilizer (one of the front yard and one on the back, to see which one works better): Ringer Lawn Restore and Milorganite. We'll see.

Now, I, too, have to tackle the weed problem. I've seen lots on the corn gluten and I was thinking about getting some of that, but then I came across a study that was done that called into question how well the corn gluten really works and now I'm as confused as ever!

No matter what I go with, it's probably not easily available at my local home center, so I'll go to Gardens Alive. We've gotten a number of products from them in the past for the non-chemical care of our apple trees and I really like what they have to offer!

Good luck and let me know if the corn gluten works!!

my MIL has the biggest 'green thumb' & says what Peg M suggests, the corn gluten.......she is suppose to call me tomorrow with the name & where to get it....i will PM you with the info

I just let my goat eat everyting in the yard sooo i dunno...