Question
Hi Charlotte B,

I live on the west coast of Florida and have my lawn (St. Augustine grass) serviced (pest control, fertilized, mowed) on a regular basis. However, my lawn looks terrible compared to some in my neighborhood. I've asked my lawn care people what's going on but haven't really gotten a good explanation. I have a section where there is an abundance of dollar weed and other sections where the grass is gone or in bad shape.
While I have not approached my lawn keepers about the dollar weed, I have questioned them regarding the lousy condition of the lawn. One said I might be overwatering while another said it may have been lack of water because of a sprinkler problem. Yet another told me I have grubs and treated for such. Obviously I don't know what the problem is since I am getting conflicting answers.

I would really like to try your suggestion regarding sugar but am concerned about giving up the current services I have.

My question is this:
Is it possible to take a small section only and try out the sugar even though the lawn people will spray over this area on their regular service routine or will this defeat the purpose?


Answer
Hi Paul;
It wouldn't work if they are still going to be spraying insecticides on the lawn.
If you go organic, you don't need the lawn service to spray insecticide,and fertilizer, because the dry molasses or sugar is going to make the soil rich enough weeds won't grow in it.I fertilize every 4 to 5 years.
If you are paying for a service you are not getting (a beautiful lawn), obviously they don't know what they are doing.
If you use sugar, you need someone to mow your lawn, and that is all you need.
I don't like sprayer systems, unless you can turn them on and of yourself.
The proper way to water for the healthiest lawn, is to water to a depth of at least 6 inches, and re-water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
This encourages the roots to go deep into the soil, and this gives protection from heat, cold, and drought.
Shallow watering makes the roots come to the surface to get water, and exposes them to these damages.
Watering a little each day, say to a depth of an inch or two, is very bad for your lawn. The roots coming to the surface and dieing is what causes a buildup of thatch. The roots come to the surface,get exposed to heat and dryness and die. They trap debris and build up a thick pad that keeps water and feedings from reaching the roots. That is thatch and you have to remove it or your whole lawn dies.
I dethatched 38 years ago when we bought this house, and since then have continued a proper lawn care program that kept the thatch away.
I am disabled, so I cannot pull or dig out weeds. I can't mow because of these disabilities. My husband mows, and top dresses with compost each spring. I do all the rest.
I don't have grubs and other insects. My lawn critters take care of them. I have toads, grass snakes and lizards. I never see sphid damage on my roses. When I used a chemical program, I sprayed my roses once a month, used systemic rose foor with insecticide, and still had aphid damage.
We used to have Japanese beetles swarming all over (adult of grubs). No more. My little critters eat them all, and they don't damage my lawn or drive me nuts when the adults fly all over. Inecticides and weed killers kill lawn critters.
I use cedar to keep away a lot of insects, including termites. I sprinkle cedar bark around my yard in early spring, and again in mid-summer. The spring sprinkling takes care of the termites,( they won't come near cedar), and the mid-summer sprinkling renews the aroma to keep fleas and ticks out of my lawn. I have 4 dogs.
Methinks I would fire that lawn service and hire a teenager to mow my lawn.
I don't use insecticides inside my home either. I have Asthma and they keep me wheezing, so I use herbs, that I frow in planters to keep insects out of my house. I can't abide spiders and cockroaches. I don't want one to even come to visit awhile. I put a sprig of rosemary on each cabinet and cupboard shelf and under the fridge, washer and dryer etc, Anyplace they can come in or hide once they get in. I never see roaches or spiders or ants in my house.Lavender makes a lovely plant in a large pot at each entry, and it keeps houseflies out. I use lemon scented furniture polish etc, and that keeps the ants out.
I don't have bugs in my house, and the only ones I have in my lawn are beneficial ones, and I don't have weeds.
When you start using the sugar, weeds will come up each spring, but they will not thrive, and after a couple of mowings, they will be gone. In 3 or 4 years of these microbes enriching your soil, the weeds will stop even coming up. My neighbor's lawn is still full of weeds, but the seeds that blow onto my yard do not come up.
I spend an average of 2 or 3 hours per week on my lawn.
When my husband mows, he leaves the grass clippings to compost and feed the lawn.
If we go away for a week in the summer, the grass stays alive and green, because of the deep root system. We have St. Augustine too. It is greener than other lawns in the neighborhood (except for the ones who have adopted my organic program) and it stays green longer in the fall.
Have I converted you yet?LOL
I would have had so much more time to do other things if I had always known what I know now about lawn care. I think I wore out 4 pairs of knees crawling around pulling and digging out weeds.
If I can help further, please write me anytime.
Charlotte