Organic Lawn Care in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.A.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

For the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States

Many people make the switch to organics with the best of intentions but become discouraged when their expectations are not met.  That small patch of clover gets bigger with each passing season.  Chinch bugs or other surface feeders may damage your lawn every summer.  There is no effective organic post emergent weed control or surface feeding insect control.  This is where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) may be the answer for you.

Why apply weed control to your entire lawn when you only have a few areas infested?  Why put insect control down every year when you have no evidence of an insect problem?  IPM, simply put, is managing the pests in your lawn as the problem arises.  Most weeds need a thin or weak area to take a foothold in thus the best weed control is to have a thick lawn.  Spot treat weeds as part of your organic based lawn program (IPM).  If you see insect damage starting in the summer, apply insect control to arrest the attack (IPM).  All of our quality tall fescues and premium ryegrasses and fine fescues are naturally insect resistant.  Seed your lawn with these grass types to deter insects.

A suggested organic lawn care program helped by IPM:

MARCH:                            

* If your lawn has thin areas, seed them with Black Beauty grass seed

* Apply MAG-I-CAL Pelletized Calcium Fertilizer

* For weed prevention and fertilization apply Organic Weed Control plus Fertilizer 9-0-0

* If just fertilization is needed apply Natural Beauty Lawn Fertilizer 10-0-1 or Organic Lawn Fertilizer 8-3-1

 

LATE APRIL / MAY:

* Control broadleaf weeds with Lawn Weed Control if needed

 

MAY-JUNE:                       

* Apply Grub Control if you have a history of grubs as a preventative measure

 

SEPTEMBER 15:         

* Seed where necessary

* Apply Organic Lawn Fertilizer 8-3-1 or Natural Beauty Lawn Fertilizer 10-0-1

 

MID-OCTOBER / NOVEMBER:         

 * Apply Organic Lawn Fertilizer 8-3-1 or Natural Beauty Lawn Fertilizer 10-0-1

 

NOTES:  

You can have a lawn you can be proud of with an organic based care program.  Use the proper Jonathan Green grass seed.  Learn how to identify an insect population.  If the damage occurs from late June through September it may be surface feeders.  Remember, when a weed or insect infestation is controlled early and effectively, the need to apply pesticides will diminish as the population is controlled. 

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