Question
Charlotte,

Thanks a bunch! Your extended and detailed advice is very helpful! Now I am afraid that I have a couple of things to verify with you based on your advice.

1. You suggest that I "till in" 3-inch deep of humus,peat moss,cedar bark mulch,and sand to loosen the soil first. How do I "till in?" Do you mean dig holes around the lawn (like areation) or just spread them around? What is the ratio for sand?

2. About organic ferterizer. I collected fallen leaves of last year and sealed them in plastic bags (recycled soil and mulch bags), expecting the leaves will turn into organic ferterizer. Can I use it? I also want to make use of soured milk and perished vegetables or things like that as organic ferterlizer. Would you tell me how to use them?

3. I would love to have the recipe for alfalfa tea and garlic pepper tea, if you don't mind. I'd like to try them.

Thank you again for your help!

Jean

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Followup To
Question -
Dear Charlotte,

I moved to a 8-year old house last year and found that the previous owner did little in the lawn care. Weeds were all over the yard. So I had a professional to do treatment last year, but the result was not good. I took over last fall and did weeds control and seeding myself.

Now it is spring and I saw my neighbors having their lawns treated. Would dyou tell me which ferterlizer I should use? What should I do with it? The lawn is still thin and has some bare spots and yellow spots.

Thanks!
Jean


Answer
Hi Jean'
Oh Honey, you ARE new at it aren't you?
That;s ok, nobody know anything about anything until the get into learning it.
Well, we are goig to start from scratch, so it is going to take more than one letter.
If you want to write me at my personal email,  I can answer you faster.
[email protected]

Tilling you do with a tiller. You can rent one or buy one.
If you are not blessed with a lot of physical strength, i would suggest you buy one of the smaller tillers. they are for lighter jobs, but I have one made by Ryobi, and it works like a little horse.
It tills pnly 6 inches deep, but that is deep enough unless you are bring in a huge farm crop.
It is lightweight and easy for a woman or anyone with less strength and stamina.
You put down 3 inches of the mix, then till it in with the top 3 inches of existing soil, and you them have 6 inches of good, loose soil.
Write me and tell me what area you live in, what kind of grass you have in the yard now, and i will know how to advise you on what kind of grass to get and whether sod or seed would work best, and where to buy lwan equipment and tools near you.
You don't need all the stuff that is out there available to buy, and yopu sure don't need to spend a fortune on organic products either,
Doing a completely organic program, i spend very little on lawn care products, and tools, You just don't need them.
Most of the stuff you need to have a thick, dark gree, gorgeous lawn and flowers can be bought whan you buy groceries, and most of it is stuff you buy anyway to cook with, you just need to buy eniough for the yard too.
If you don't want to correspong through our personal emails, just write me back here, and we will do it in here.
Charlotte