Question
I have been taken over by johnson grass this season.  I read some entries mentioning the use of sugar.  Is this just regular sugar?  If so, how do you use it?  Or do you have a better solution.  I prefer to stay organic.  Have been for 6 years.  Thanks.

Answer
Dear Sherrie:

Sugar has the potential to control annual weeds according to recent research trials conducted by researchers from Charles Sturt University. The researchers have found that sugar provides a good, short-term non-chemical and ecologically friendly method of weed control.  Additional details of the research can be found at:

 www.csu.edu.au/research/ilws/news/sweetendtoweeds.pdf
                
Suggest you identify a spot in your lawn to use as a 10 ft square test bed and apply ordinary granulated sugar at the rate of 1/2 cup per gallon of warm water and spray on the test bed and carefully monitor your results over a 2 year period.  Spray this mixture every 3 months. Do not use chemical weed controls on the test bed, otherwise you will cancel the effect of the sugar feeding the soil microbes.

Meanwhile, suggest you investigate the use of another organic product for lawns called corn gluten meal. This product is an excellent herbicide for lawns.  The link below contains an excellent article describing the product and the application as well as a listing of vendors who sell it:

 http://wihort.uwex.edu/turf/corngluten.htm

Regards,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee