Chemical Free Lawns


12 Easy Steps to Get Your Lawn Off Drugs

  1. Tolerate some weeds: Allow plants to exist such as clover in your lawn for its nitrogen

  2. Manually remove weeds: Hand pulling weeds is the best method of weed control. More than 80% of weeds are annuals. Hand remove annuals before they seed, and remember to remove roots of perennials. Don't give up!

  3. Re-seed bare spots: Before weeds take over bare soil patches, fill them in. Plant a mixture rather than a single variety  to build a healthy turf that is drought and disease tolerant (eg. 20% Kentucky Bluegrass, 30% Creeping Fescue, 35% Tall Fescue, 15% Rye Grass).

  4. Remove Thatch: The matted and dense layer of dead plants and grass on your lawn which can inhibit plant growth and prevent air, water and nutrients from reaching the soil. If thatch is more than 1/2'' thick, use raking and aeration to remove the excess.

  5. Aerate lawn: To break through the thatch and reduce compaction of soil. This enccourages deeper rooting and allows water, nutrients and organic matter to feed the soil.

  6. Fertilize naturally: If you need to fertilize, use organic choices. Natural fertilizers are more desirable because of their long-term benefits and are needed less frequently. Natural fertilizers improve the soil's ability to retain and release nutrients and they are alive with beneficial micro-organisms which speed up decomposition of grass clippings and thatch.

  7. Mow higher: Keep grass 2-3" high to encourage taller grass which will crowd out weeds, encourage longer roots and shade the soil. Never cut off more than 1/3 of the height at a time. Keep the mower blades sharp so you don't damage the grass.

  8. Leave grass clippings: Less raking! Leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil. Grass clipping begin to decompose almost immediately and are a free and natural fertilizer for your lawn.

  9. Water more deeply & less frequently: Water your lawn once a week for no more than one hour (this is equivalent to 2.5 cm (1'') of water). LONGER GRASS=DEEPER ROOTS=LESS WATERING. Frequent light watering encourages shallow roots and leaves the grass vulnerable to insects and disease. Water slowly for better absorption.

  10. Test your soil: Tests will give your soil's PH, organic matter content and nutrients needed to balance it. To obtain soil test kits contact:
    Dept. of Agriculture & Fisheries Quality Evaluation - Laboratory Services
    P.O. Box 550
    Truro, N.S.  B2N 5E3

  11. Consider alternative plants: A variety of native plants, trees and shrubs, perennials, ground covers and wild flowers provide the best defense against insects, weeds and diseases that can cause problems for your lawn.

  12. Encourage & develop a tolerance: A weed is simply a plant that isn't where it is supposed to be. Most insects are not harmful. Using the above organic gardening steps to encourage earthworms and micro-organisms. Welcome birds and beneficial insects like ladybugs, spiders and dragonflies.