Question
Hi Charlotte:

I have young kids and I don't like to use chemicals and pesticides on my lawn. Every year the lawn is looking worse and worse.  What can I do to get my lawn to look good without the pesticides?  Last year I tried an organic fertilizer but I didn't really notice any improvement.  I'd like to get rid of the
weeds and thicken the lawn a little.  Any Advice?

Thank you

Jackie

Answer
Areas where the kids play a lot will lose spots of grass. There are hardier varieties you can plant in there, to handle the extra foot traffic.
I use sugar on my lawn. Dry molasses is what is recommended, but sugar works if you can't find dry molasses.
The sugar works as well, and it costs about the same, but those little 4 and 5 pound bags are easier for me to handle than the 40 pound bags of dry molasses.
Weeds like poor soil. amd do not thrive in rich soil, so grow good soil, and the weeds will take care of themselves.
I use about 1 pound sugar per 150sq.ft. of lawn.
If you fertilize, it kills some beneficial microbes that enrigh your soil. Fertilize and put down sugar, then water it all in together. The sugar (or dry molasses) keeps the microbes alive.
I started this one year, when my lawn was covered with johnson grass, crab grass, dandelions, chickweed, and some I didn't identify. I didn't get a chance to fertilize, and just used the sugar. In about 2 weeks, the weeds were half gone. they just seemed to go away.They got mowed with the grass, and fed the lawn, after they composted.I didn't fertilize for about 4 years. when the grass looked a little yellow, and needed iron, I fed with Fertilome Lawn Lawn Food with Iron.
That was about 4 or 5 years ago, and so far this year, it looks fine. my yard also stays green longer that anyone else's.
I just use sugar in the spring and fall, water it in good, and that is all.
I use cedar bark mulch scattered all over my yard to keep away termites, fleas, ticks, etc. It repels a lot of other insects too.
I keep mosquitoes away with mosquito plants, planted in big pots and placed about 15 feet apart in the yard. We can go into the yard for hours at night, and not be bitten.
I have a big pot of lavendar beside each door, to keep houseflies out of the house.
Instead of insecticides on my roses and other flowers and plants, I keep my yard safe for lizards, grass snakes, and toads. I don't want to socialize with them, or pet them, I just want them to eat the bad bugs from my plants.
They do a better job than insecticides do.
Baking soda in water sprayed on the bottom and top of leaves keep black spot off my roses, and white powdery mildew off my Crepe Myrtle etc, better than commercial fungicides.
I grow rosemary, and besides using it for cooking, I put a sprig of fresh rosemary under the fridge, washer and dryer, on each cabinet shelf, stick a piece in the places where pipes come into the house, and you NEVER see a roach in my house. I also do not have spiders and ants, so something I do keeps them away too. I think it is the rosemary.
Herbs are easy to grow, and are better for cooking fresh, than the dried ones.
I grow my own herbs for aroma therapy.
Chopped orange peels will keep your yard free of fire ants.
There are 2 ways I apply these.
I chop up the peels, and scatter them, or I put a bunch of them in my food processor and really grind them up, then put them in Epsom Salts. About 2 oranges worth of peels to a half gallon of Epsom salts. Shake them up well to mix, leave it overnight in a tight jar. The oils will blend very well, and you can scatter them all over the yard, when it is time for fire ants to swarm, and keep them from coming into your yard to begin with.
My grandkids love tp scatter Granny's concoctions for organic gardening.
Chopped lemon peels keep cats out of your flower beds and garden. Just chop the peel of every lemon you use (or buy a dozen or so for that purpose) and throw then in the beds or garden, on an ongoing basis. I do remember where I scattered them last, so when I just have a few, I eventually get it all covered.
If you need to cover a large area, do them like the orange peels in the Epsom Salts. Letting the oil soak into the Epsom Salts overnight, makes the peels go further.
I buy half gallow cartons of the Epsom Salts at Walmart for about 2 to 3 dollars each. Really economical.
I handle just about every problem with bugs and plant diseases with organic methods.
Anything you need help with, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to help you.