lawn care

LAWN CARE
since i do the landscaping for the habitat for humanity
houses we build
limited of course by funds
and
the interest in landscape care by the owners
it is always variable
some dont want anything but grass
others want more done

so
my advice on lawn care to them will be this
as i have been asked to give a talk to
the new homeowners on lawn care


you need a lawn mower and and an edger
or
someone to hire to mow your grass
i would get an electric one or a rechargeable one
since the yards are small enough for them
we used an electric one for years
never had to mess with gas or oil or care of the mower
just plug it in and mow
ours lasted 10 years until i gave it away
remember i have no lawn i xeriscaped it away


in october and in february put down
corn gluten
it inhibits weed seed germination
it also is a mild fertilizer
please dont use weed and feed
its not good for your babies and kids and pets
and
our waterways are contaminated with it
look for the frogs with 3 eyes and 5 legs
for proof

after you have mowed your grass twice in the spring
then apply a good organic ferilizer
it doesnt run off and contaminate the water
and
doesnt build up salts in the soil
recommended brands are
ladybug 8-2-4
medinas growin green fertilizer
gardenvilles organic fertilizer
these are the gold standards for organic fertilizers

add compost really anytime but in the spring is
a good time
dont use dillo dirt
apply it at 1/4 inch depth

mow the grass to keep it at these heighths
2 inches if its bermuda or zoysia
3 inches if its st augustine or buffalo

the grasses get diseases
they are good organic treatments
see this website for specific treatments

now at the habitat houses
we use bermuda
since its cheaper to put in and is easier to maintain
gets fewer diseases
its tougher
but
it doesnt like shade
and
its invasive into your beds

when you mow leave the clippings on the yard
it breaks down and acts like a fertilizer

if you get weeds
just accept that you get weeds
you will always get weeds
you cant chemical them away
just
mow them like grass so they wont flower and go to seed
or
dig them up
dont get weirded out about weeds
keep them mowed and removed and the numbers each
year will decrease

if you water your grass and you use a movable sprinkler
water the yard once a week
put out a tuna can or cat food can
when it gets an inch of rain in the can then stop watering it
if the grass and ground is wet dont water it
like it is now throughout the south
sorry california folks yall dont have water to use
and
your ground is dry

in the winter you can probably not water your grass
at all unless its is real real dry

if you have shaded areas that wont grow grass
just add thick mulch there
you dont have to do any of this stuff above to mulch
just replace it every few years
and
many cities will actually give you mulch
or
some cities will even pay you to mulch away your yard

consider doing this on as much of your yard as possible
water is becoming scarce and expensive

so
this method of lawn care applies to all the grasses
its organic
its safe for your babies and kids and pets
your frogs in your ponds will have two eyes
and
four legs

but remember also brown is the new green

the organicgreen doctor