Question
QUESTION: After much soul-searching, I have finally faced reality and decided that my lawn and my family will all be better off if we can minimize my use of pesticides.  I don't know where to begin.  I am not sure if I should just go "cold turkey" or if there should be a transition.  How can I accomplish this without suddenly being a haven for weeds?  Do I have to start all over (till, new sod, etc.)?  Any advice you can give on this?

ANSWER: I vote for the Cold Turkey system.  The faster, the better.  There's really no other way to do this, actually.  Every dose of chemicals wipes out all signs of microbial life in your soil.  The food chain starts from the bottom; without those microbes, your food chain all the way up to the Birds and beyond will suffer.  Better to step back and let Nature take its course.

Your Lawn is probably breathing a sigh of relief.  There's going to be some very Happy Grass out there tomorrow morning.

First, you have to make sure you continue to mow on schedule.  Depending on the Grass you have, you want to mow at the right height and keep mowing all summer to keep it there.

Fertilize your Grass with a slow release Nitrogen fertilizer.  I am comfortable with Milorganite but you may have other options in your area.  Where are you writing from?

It's time to get a soil test.  Few people ever both with this, mainly because it's not on the Scotts 1 2 3 step chemical program.  They don't care what state your Grass or your soil is in as long as you keep buying their stuff.  Tell me where you live and I'll send you to the local Cooperative Extension for the big test.  They'll give you all kinds of juicy details about your soil structure, the pH, its pro's and con's and what's there and isn't.  It's the most important thing you can do for your Grass.

Finally, when you water, make sure you really soak the soil well and give the Grass roots a good drink.  Water in the morning so the Grass has a chance to dry out.  And don't water again until it looks like it's really thirsty.  Over-watering Grass is asking for a lot of trouble that you don't need.

There you are, the basics.  I have posed a few questions for you and when you get me the answers, I can give you more information.  That soil test is urgent.  You want to get that information as fast as you can, so that you can take action that you need.

Don't worry about Weeds moving in on your Grass.  Watch.  Your Lawn is going to look dazzling by the time you're done with it.  Thanks for writing and rsvp.

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

QUESTION: In answer to your questions, (a) we are using a Jonathan Green Blugrass variety on the entire plot, (b) zip 11560 (I apologize for not including that originally), (c) Would it be useful to purchase a soil testing kit and what kind would you recommend?

If you have a website, I would be interested in seeing it.  Please provide a link if possible.  

Answer
Bluegrass tends to thatch up after a few seasons because of its roots.  That's the perfect kind of problem you WON'T have if you are successful at Organic gardening.

Don't buy a home soil test.  The do it yourselfers are NEVER as good as the real thing.  Not even close.  It's reasonably priced and you will get incredible information from Cornell Cooperative Extension soil testers.

Sorry, I have a website under construction, not ready to use yet.  I'd show it to you if I could.  Thanks for writing.