How to Create a Weed Free Lawn Without Using Harmful Chemicals Fort Collins CO

Steps

1. Take soil samples to a local nursery or send them into a testing center. The test will show your nutrient and pH levels, and how much organic matter is present.
2. Use the results to target specific organic spreads to maintain correct levels for growing grass.
3. Use corn gluten meal in the spring and fall as a pre-emergent for weeds. The corn gluten will also give a small amount of slow-release nitrogen, making it a good weed and feed combination.
4. Water your lawn or go out after a rain and remove weeds by hand, making sure to get the root system or else the weed will grow back. Use a dandelion tool to remove dandelions.
5. Re-seed the entire lawn (in Fall and/or Spring) if necessary, paying particular attention to bare spots. Use a grass mix with a higher percentage of Rye grass (rye grass is a quick growing annual [there is also a perennial rye] that will help to establish the other slower growing perennial grasses).
6. De-thatch and aerate your lawn in the Spring. Continue to re-seed once a year till lawn is thick. If you adopt a more sensible method of fertilizing and watering your lawn, it will eventually be unnecessary to de-thatch or aerate. For details, see the WikiHow article How to get and maintain a healthy lawn
7. Keep your lawn mower at higher settings during the Summer months; the higher grass shades out weeds.

Tips

• Make sure to change the oil in your mowers to prevent damage to the mowers
• Sharpen your lawn mower blade at least once a year.
• "Overseed" bare spots to get complete coverage.
• Many consider annual over seeding of the entire lawn to be the single best weed prevention you can have.
• Be patient--it may take several years to achieve a maintenance-free lawn.
• If your lawn gets too much rain try planting bushes or flowers to soak up some of the rain.
• In spring and fall, consider spreading about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of compost over the existing grass to provide nutrients.
• For more detailed information on how to maintain a healthy lawn, see the WikiHow article "How to get and maintain a healthy lawn."

Warnings

• Some weeds such as Creeping Charlie may need to be removed with chemicals; treat them in the fall when nutrients are stored in the root system. If you do need to treat with chemicals, use a granule, you are less likely to contaminate aquatic life as you would with a liquid. Read and follow all label directions.

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