You can switch any time you want. The longer period for the lawn to turn green is about 3 weeks, the time it takes for soil microbes to make the nitrogen in the organic matter available to the grass. The nitrogen in synthetic fertilizers is in a form that is immediately available, so you see effects in a couple of days.

You might want to check out the organic lawncare forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic lawncare forum

The sooner you start the sooner you start seeing the kinds of results that organic yard practioners appreciate. And, the improvement continues for several seasons, until you kind of reach plane were you have a healthy soil, and its benefits, all the time.

I highly recommend it, although I don't consider myself an organic purist. I use Roundup occasionally. I used regular pre-emergents to try to fight poa annua (and basically gave up), I tried anti-fungal sprays and granuals and found them very unhelp and counter-productive for me.

But, as BP said, there is no better or worse time to start, just go.

I would fertilize a little on the high side organically the first year until you get your soil organisms built up. After that, you may find you can fertilize less.

If you want a little transition time, wait for Memorial Day. On M-Day, apply your favorite chemical fertilizer (no weed killer, no insecticide, no fungicide) at 1/2 the rate recommended on the bag. At the same time, apply alfalfa pellets at 10-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Then on the 4th of July, apply the alfalfa again at the same rate. Then on Labor day and Thanksgiving, repeat.

Immediately there will be a change in your soil's health. The soil microbes come alive and start doing your gardening for you. It takes a year or so for your grass plants to shed all their roots and grow new ones under the influence of the organic program. After that you are pretty much there. Once you stop using all chemicals, then you will see the return of toads, lizards, geckos, and birds to your garden. These are bigger beasts and take longer to return, but they will. These are the critters that will control your insect populations.

Thanks for the info and encouragement.

Al

"An organically happy lawn." Oh good grief........ "then you will see the return of toads, lizards, geckos, and birds to your garden." You guys make me laugh. You think all the physical and natural laws just cut off and on when you decide to "go organic". The Toads, Lizards, birds , moles, Raccoons, Deer, etc. have never left my yard. Whatever...

rdaystrom, thank you for another sensitive, insightful, and valuable contribution to an otherwise non controversial topic. As long as you're feeling helpful, there is a whole forum for organic lawns where they would love to benefit from the depth and breadth of your organic experience.

The laws never change. The organic approach relies on healthy soil, insect, and plant biology to produce deep green grass and minimal insect issues. The synthetic chemical approach relies on bypassing biology and substituting man-made chemicals for those made by the plant and soil microbes.

People change to an organic approach for many reasons. Sometimes they change back; again, for many reasons. Whatever your reasons for wanting to try organics, we can help you make the best of it.

Uncle al,

Go for it. I don't see any info where you live or what zone you are in, but if the soil temp is near or above 60, you can apply organics anytime. I've used alfalfa , soybean meal, corn meal, and milorganite. I like soybean meal the best, but it is way to pricey now, over $20 for a 50# bag. So now I have Bay State fertilizer which is the same as Milorganite, just made in Boston rather than Milwaukee.

I don't think you have to wait until late May or June to start. Get a full application down the first time you mow. If you grass is growing, there will be microbe activity as well. It can take up to 3 weeks to see the green up, but the first time I applied organics it was 6 days when I could see the spots I missed, they were still yellow and everything else was turning real green and growing.

Also, the cycle for organics is usually 6 weeks, so I started applying a full dose up front, followed by 1/2 doses every 3 weeks all summer up until October. The lawn loved it, it never got a chance to look pale. The only thing is I was mowing ever 4 days, but I enjoy it so it works fine for me. This year I'll cut back to 2/3 doses once a month and see how that goes.

And despite what others say, by the end of this year you will have a major increase in soil dwellers such as earthworms. Within two years, you will see an increase in wildlife. Yes ther will be more birds, more toads, squirrels, chipmunks, field mice, rabbits, snakes, and possibly larger animals depending on where you live. Nature's cycle will benefit tremendously from your simple choice to use organic fertilizers.

Hi dchall, do you think a regular regiment of used coffee grounds would be just as effective as alfalfa pellets in the long run? I know alfalfa pellets probably have more nitrogen, but coffee grounds are free :)

Egghead2004,

Hi, I am about 25 miles south of Boston in Raynham. The grass is just starting to show signs of life. It's still pretty cold at night(32°-40°).

I think I am going to start by core aerating and overseeding. However, I am thinking of using a pre-emergent containing Tupersan because my neighbor's lawn, unfortunately is 50% crabgrass and quackgrass and I really don't want to battle with crabgrass. Right now it's confined to the edge of the lawn right along the sidewalk and nowhere else. And I want to keep it that way! This will be the last time I use a use a chemical pre-emergent.

I am also thinking about doing what dchall suggested and doing a mix of chemical and organic fertilizers to get started. After seeing how the lawn reacts I will then decide to go all organic or continue with the combo for while.

One last thing, where can I find the Bay State fertilizer.

Thanks for the help.

Al

Nothing wrong with a hybrid approach. I use a high nitrogen synthetic fertilizer in late October to keep it green all winter and a quick head start in the spring.

I also use weed B gone for clover and other weeds that pop up now and then, but the thicker the lawn gets, the less I have to use WBG.

The only place where I know to get Bay State Fertilizer is directly from the source by the ton. But, there are stores that carry it if you don't have the room for 50 bags, email or call Carl, he can help you.

http://www.mwra.com/03sewer/html/baystate.htm

Takadi--coffee grounds are fine to use on the lawn. That's all I've used for the past few years. The problem is that if you have a larger lawn, it may be difficult to get enough. I've got a fairly small lawn and there are several Starbucks I pass at least once a week, so it's easy for me to get enough for the lawn without going out of my way.

If you have a small enough lawn or if you want to use the grounds for just part of your lawn's needs, you're fine.

Coffee grounds are fine. They have about the same protein content as ordinary corn meal, which is what I use almost exclusively.

She's not posting at GW anymore but I learned about coffee grounds from a woman in Vancouver. Her pictures were pretty convincing evidence of the benefit. There was a distinct line of dark green grass on her side of the property line and the grass over 'there' was yellow.