Question
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Followup To
Question - Thanks!  Do you think it's too early to use the sugar?  The weeds are running out of control and I would like to start getting under control. Thanks again.
Hi, I was reading several of your articles dealing with weeds in general and am very interested in getting more information on the use of sugar to control weeds.  I live in the Houston-Katy, Texas area and am having problems with crab grass, oxalis, chick weeds and dandelions.  The oxalix is out of control on my front lawn (although I think it's pretty, I don't think my homeowners assocition will be too happy) I have crabgrass and chick weed growing on other parts of the lawn.  How much sugar is needed? Should I water after applying the sugar? Is this regular white sugar being used?    I am afraid of using any chemicals because of the damage it may create.  And I do have a cat that loves to nibble at the diffent grasses/weeds. Thank you in advance for your time.
Answer -
Hi Jackie;
I had all the weeds except Oxalis, untill I started using sugar.
I use 1 pound per 250 to 300 sq.ft. of lawn, then water it in well.
I use it when the first green shows up in the spring, and again in the fall.
I use table sugar.
I only use Imperial sugar for my table, because there IS a difference in sugars, but for my lawn, I usually buy C&S because it is cheaper then Imperial brend.
Actually, what I was told to use was dry molasses, but at that time, the nurseries didn't carry dry molasses.
A couple years later, they carried it, so I used it.
I like the results I get with sugar better, and those 50 lb bags of dry molasses, are heavy.
Besides I can buy the sugar for the lawn when I shop for groceries.
I had wild violets in my yard, and I liked them, but they went with the other weeds when I started using sugar. Maybe your Oxalis will do the same.
If it doesn't, you might try vinegar.
If you can find 10% acidity vinegar, also called pickling vinegar, spray some directly on the Oxalis, but avoid getting it on the grass.
In the summer, when our Dallas temps get up there, I pour white vinegar on any grass coming up between sidewalk cracks etc. It kills it right away. The hotter the temperature, the faster it kills it.
Your cat may nibble more on the grasses, because they will be growing in richer soil, and should be sweeter.
To keep cats out of your flower beds, and containers, if you have container plants, put fresh chopped lemon peels in them. Cats won't use them for their litter box anymore.
I have used all the lemon scented cat repellants, and none of them worked, but finely chopped lemon peels work like a charm.
I haven't uncovered a single nast little surprise in my garden since I started using them.
Each lemon I use, I finely chop the peels, and scatter then. I work a mental grid so that there is a fairly fresh application of peels the year round.
Charlotte  

Answer
Use sugar anytime. That is the beauty of it, it is never too early or too late, and if you think another application will speed things up, go ahead an apply another treatment. If you dump 50 pounds of it in one spot, you will not do harm to your yard, because there is no chemical to burn the grass or over stimulate.
You do want to make sure your soil is loose enough. If soil has too much clay or too much sand, it can be next to impossible to have a nuce lush lawn. Too much clay is by far worse.
clay won't et water penetrate the soil so it gets inadequate water and nutrients.
If you have too much clay, there are some things you can do to amend it, but if it is very tight, it might be better to have some materials tilled into it to loosen it up, and just start over.
As your soil enriches after the application of the sugar, you will notice fewer weeds each week.
Some will probably come back next spring, but each year, fewer should even come up, until in 2 or 3 years, none come up at all.
Charlotte