Question
Charlotte,
I have a small front lawn that faces west/southwest. I live in Oregon and have completely re-seeded this lawn 3 times in six years. I will admit that I do not follow a strict regimen of trying to control the weeds. I just dont know what to do or when to do it. I am tired of being embarrassed of my lawn. SO, next week I am getting a bonus from work and would like to put it towards fixing up the lawn. The lawn has moss, crab grass, dandelions, clover, clover and more clover (among other weeds). What is my best bet to get a wonderful lawn? Should I dig it all up and lay sod (I am leaning towards this option)? Should I some how kill it off and re-seed? The yard is about 12' by 40'. I do have cats, so chemicals are an issue. I also think I should wait until the weather is warmer. Am I right? One more question :-). Once I get it looking good, where do I find a schedule of maintenence to follow? I need something to tell me what to do and when to do it w/ what product. Thank you for any and all info you can give me!
Becky - embarrassed home owner!

Answer
Hi Becky;
Using the sugar chased the clover, dandelions, crabgrass and all the other weeds, in my lawn, including the vild violets, whic i would really have liked to keep.
No time of year is wrong for doing it, because all it does is enrich the soil so weeds won't thrive in it and so will die out.
To sod or to plant.
I think it depends on a matter od choice as well as the kind of grass you are growing.
I like grasses that spread by runners, rather than individual blades of grass, because they spread and thicken by natural growing.
I have St. Augustine in my yard, with a few small areas of Burmuda.
I don't know what kinds of grasses are better for your area.
Plugging in some varieties of grass is one answer to the problem, if your soil is loose enough and doesn't need to be amended.
If your soil is too much clay or too much sand, you are going to have problems growing anything.
Chemicals are a big issue with me. I have dogs, but my neighbors have cats and they sometimes walk on my yard.
I want NO animal or child to come to harm because of something I put on my lawn.
You want a deep root system. Shallow watering encourages roots to come close to the surface, and those roots can die, and are also more subjected to heat. cold. and drought damage.
I always water to a depth of 6 inches, and rewater when they top twp inches are dry.
I water with a soaker hose until it starts to run off at the walks, etc, then I turn it off for an hour or so, to let it soak in, then do the same again until it is wet 6 inches deep.
Pretty much my whole lawn care routine is,,, sugar in the fall and spring ( if not then, whenever I get around to it) at the rate of 1 pound per 250-300 sq,ft of lawn.
Water it in thoroughly, to at least 6 incjhes.
Mow when you will cut off NO MORE than 1/3rd of new growth. Edge, let the clippings stay in the ground to compost into food for the grass.
That's really about all there is to ot.
I don't use weed killers.
For trees that seed into my lawn, I wait unti hot weather, cover them with black plastis, and l;et the heat cook them. Then you can just pluck them out.
Write anytime you have a question about organics, or need more clarification.
Charlotte