Question
QUESTION: Hi Tom,
I have read a few of Charlotte B's. posts about using sugar to help enrich the soil.  In it she said it wasn't the sugar that kills the weed but the Micro-Organisms kill the weeds.  Where do we get the Micro-Organisms or how do we get them in our lawns?  I live in north-Central Texas, about 50 miles west of Fort Worth and a sticker that we call "Grass Spur" is a bad weed pest here and very painful to step on.  I would love to start an Organic yard.  It's now November the 10th.  Is it too late in the year to start and if so, what is the proper time/way to do it?  Thank you and have a BLESSED day.
God Bless You
Don

ANSWER: Don:

I have no direct experience with sugar in the landscape.  Ask Charlotte B.

The "Grass spur" must be sandspur.  I know of no organic control.  For cultural control, I suspect that a full, healthy turf will compete with it, keeping it from appearing in gaps of the lawn.

A high quality compost will provide many beneficial mico-organisms, as well as help establish a healthy lawn.

Otherwise, chemical control will consist of pre-emergent herbicides, such as benefin or benefin plus oryzalin.  For post emergent, try MSMA plus DMSA.

Hope this helps.  Best wishes.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tom, I tried typing in Charlotte B. in the search and it showed she is no longer with "allexperts".  Is there any way I can contact her by email, postal, phone, etc.  Thank you for your help and have a BLESSED day.
God Bless You
Don

Answer
Don:

I know of no way to contact her other than through AllExperts.com.  Sorry.

To answer your question regarding proper time to start a lawn:
Start when you are ready
Choose the turf you desire
Check seasonal germination times for seed or with your local sod provider
Use high quality compost for soil prep 1-2 cubic yds/1000 ft
Winter grasses should germinate OK now
Summer grasses will need spring or summer

Best wishes.