skip to main content

Organic Lawn Care

What to do with my lawn o weeds?

11 years ago

Let me preface this by saying I've been reading the forums and I'm completely overwhelmed! We moved into this house 1.5 years ago. I didn't even worry about the lawn last year - was dealing with flowerbeds.

So now I'm thinking about the lawn. Which is weeds. Seriously. 85% is not an exaggeration and may be a low estimate. We are on a half acre and the large back yard is half creeping charlie and half something else that forms a big mat of turf - I'm thinking niblewill? I've decided it's too big to worry about at this point - and at least it's green!

On to the front yard. A bit of creeping charley out there, but not overrun (yet!). A fair amount of broadleaf plantains. Some 'regular' clover. A bunch of patches of another kind of clover that has really tiny chartreuse-colored leaves. And clumps of crabgrass mostly around the flower beds. And other stuff...it's bad. LOL

I'm in the suburbs of NYC and I realize fall is fast approaching. I don't think I have time to schedule a soil test before I need to put something down. I'll try to get one in the spring.

Should I overseed? Do I pull weeds first (it will be pretty bare!) Do I fertilize? With what? I have a bag of CGM here. And half a bag of chicken poop. Either of those going to do anything for me?

Like I said, I'm a little overwhelmed by everything, so I guess I'm just looking for something to do right now and I'll take the winter to try to form an action plan to begin in the spring.

Thank you!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

Kimmsr
11 years ago
Many "weeds" grow only in soils that are not good soils for turf grasses, although many others have adapted to a wide range of soil types. Given that then the first thing you should do is contact your counties Cornell Cooperative Extension Service office about having a good, reliable soil test done to see what your soils pH is and what the levels of P, K, Ca, and Mg, are. Then maybe dig in that soil using these simple soil tests,
1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drainsÃ¯Â¿Â½ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell.

5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.

to see what else needs be done to make that soil into a good, healthy soil that will grow a good turf.
0
emcd124
11 years ago
@Kathy: Sadly, I have no suggestions, just commiseration. I'm in about the same boat here, and also feeling overwhelmed. I feel like I could be at it until the cows come home if I try to dig all those weeds by hand, and the dang things just keep coming back!
0
Related Discussions
What kind of weed is this? It's ALL over my lawn!
Q
Comments (8)
There isn't much you can do about the weeds now except preventing them from setting seed -- so I would keep them mowed low as soon as they start their flowering/seed production in late winter/early Spring (this is as soon as we break from the winter pattern and things warm just a little bit -- as early as late February depending on where you are, elevation, etc.). I would wait until late summer/early fall to try to build the lawn (aside from a pre-emergent for summer annual weeds in Spring). The folks over on the lawn forum know a tremendous amount about how to establish a lawn that will choke out weeds. But, I will say that condition number one is you can't grow dense cool-season turfgrass without at least 5-8 hours of sun per day (and the 5 is pushing it). Good luck!
...See More
I have a serious infestation of weeds in my lawn, how do I fight it?
Q
Comments (2)
If you live in the south and want bermuda or St Augustine, we can help you get to a nice lawn in a few months. If you live in the north and want something like rye, fescue, and/or Kentucky bluegrass, I would suggest you hang onto that thought until after summer as suggested by someone in your past. In the mean time practice proper watering, mowing, and fertilizing and you will have the best looking weeds on the block. That's what I'm currently doing at my new home. Because I'm satisfied with the look of green, even though it is green weeds, this is a very low stress approach. Here's a picture of my weeds from last July. Proper watering means deep an infrequent. Deep means 1 inch all at one time; not spread out over several days. Infrequent means to adjust frequency for the temperature. When it's hotter you deep water more often. With temps in the 90s water once per week. With temps in the 80s water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70 water once a month. This works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so wherever you are it will work. Mulch mow most grasses at the highest notch on the mower. The only grasses that get mowed at the lowest level are bermuda, centipede, and creeping bentgrass. Fertilize once in the late spring and twice in the fall. Late spring is Memorial Day. Early fall is Labor Day and late fall is around Thanksgiving. That's about all there is to it.
...See More
What is this weed on my lawn and how do I get rid of it
Q
Comments (2)
Looks like broadleaf plantain.
...See More
How do I control this type of weed in my lawn?
Q
Comments (13)
" I live near the PA/MD boarder, is there any chance I could get some grass seed to take this time of year? " It's highly unlikely. While we're going into a temporary "historic cold snap" of 70 or so, June's about to descend on us. Wait until August 15 or August 23 to seed. While I do see grass in the mix there, it's hard to say how much. Until you kill the black medic, we're not really going to know what state your lawn is in. Probably not very good, but it's not possible to begin improving it unless you start somewhere.
...See More

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden

By Abundant City

Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil

GARDENING GUIDES Let's Weed Out 4 Native Plant Myths

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Plant wisely for a garden that supports pollinators and requires less work

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Ways to Naturally Win the Weed War

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Show irksome weeds no mercy with these tricks for combating them sans chemicals

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Bugle Weed, a Quick Ground Cover

It’s highly adaptable, suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and provide weeks of bright flowers. Just watch for invasiveness

GARDENING GUIDES Weed War: When and How to Use Chemical Herbicides

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Before you spray, arm yourself with knowledge about which weed killers — natural or synthetic — are right for your yard

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Weed-Smothering Ground Covers

Let these landscape plants do the dirty work of choking out weeds while you sit back and enjoy the view

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Things to Know About Weeding and Mulching Your Native Garden

By Oakley Gardens

What’s the best time to pull weeds? How thick should the mulch be? Here’s the scoop for a healthy landscape

GARDENING GUIDES Tackle Weeds the Natural Way

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Instead of dousing your yard with chemicals to wipe out weeds, let time and nature work their magic via smothering and solarization

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: From Overgrown Weeds to Picturesque Farmhouse Expanse

By Mitchell Parker

This once-neglected 100-acre South Carolina site now features a lake, a wood-filled farmhouse and a far-reaching view

BEFORE AND AFTERS See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

By Annie Thornton

Wondering whether a turf lawn is the best use of your outdoor space? These homeowners did, and they found creative alternatives

Sponsored

John Romans Construction

1 Review

Franklin County's Full Service, Turn-Key Construction & Design Company