When
do I fertilize my lawn?
Your lawn should be fertilized four times per season:
April
Use a high nitrogen fertilizer or high nitrogen fertilizer
with crab grass treatment, eg., Scott's Turf Builder
with Halt.
May
Use a weed and feed fertilizer
Late July/Early August
This is a good time to apply organics.
Late September
Use a low nitrogen, high phosporous fertilizer.
When do I put
lime on my lawn?
Lime is used for sweetening the soil, which raises the
pH. Lime should be applied in early spring just before
the first application of fertilizer.
How do I deal
with a grub problem?
There are two ways to get rid of grubs:
1. Grubs cannot survive in sweet soil. Using lime in
early spring will help keep grubs away.
2. Beneficial Nematodes, which feed on grubs, can be
used in May and late August to Early September when
grubs usually show up to munch on grass roots.
Growing a green lawn: 3 easy steps for spring
Many gardeners think a healthy lawn can only be achieved with chemicals. Think again! You CAN get your lawn off drugs!
Step 1.
In the spring when soil has dried and firmed-up, rake the lawn thoroughly. If necessary, remove thatch (dried, heavily matted under-layer of grass) with a specially designed rake. Aerate if soil is very compacted.
Step 2.
In early spring, top dress your lawn with corn gluten, either with or without organic lawn food. Corn gluten works by smothering weed seeds to prevent germination. It then decomposes to fertilize. Corn gluten can be applied in spring as well as early fall. Organic lawn care may require some weed pulling as necessary.
Thin lawns with few weeds will benefit more from an over seeding than corn gluten application. Garden centre staff can recommend a seed mix best suited for your site.
Spring corn gluten application and fall over seeding gives excellent results.
Step 3.
Apply Nematodes. Why?
The sad truth is most lawns in Eastern Ontario are now besieged by grubs. Brown patches where grass just seems to disappear? Chubby , short white ‘worms’ found when you turn over a shovel full of sod? Grubs have arrived.
A safe, non-toxic organic method to rid your turf of grubs is a twice yearly application of nematodes. Nematodes are a microscopic live parasite, applied in water. They are non-harmful to children or pets, birds or other insects.
Applied when soil has warmed, they multiply below your grass and feed on grubs as part of their life cycle. Grubs have a spring/fall life cycle, so apply nematodes again mid August to mid September.
At Gemmell’s Garden Centre, we carry everything you need for a beautiful, healthy organic lawn ---corn gluten, grass seed mixes for many different needs, nematodes, and excellent books. Check out ‘Lawns for Canada – Natural and Organic’ by Don Williamson.
Our expert staff will be glad to offer assistance with the ‘greening-up’ of your lawn.
What are the different hardiness zones?
Here are some helpful links about the hardiness zones in Canada:
Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada map by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canada's Plant Hardiness Site by Natural Resources Canada
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