Comments on: Organic Lawn: One Year Later https://www.scottarboretum.org/organic-lawn-one-year-later/ Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:45:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 By: Nicole Selby https://www.scottarboretum.org/organic-lawn-one-year-later/#comment-905 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:52:17 +0000 http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/?p=3483#comment-905 My best weapon against broadleaf weeds is probably overseeding, meaning planting grass seed right into the established lawn anywhere it’s thin. If sunlight can’t hit the bare soil where the seed bank is waiting, there is very little weed seed germination.

We combat established weeds like plantain, dandelion and smartweed pretty well by pulling or digging. We immediately fill in the space with grass seed, and address underlying cultural issues like compaction or organic matter deficiencies, or else weeds will move back in.

White clover is unfeasible to eradicate because of its stoloniferous nature, plus it’s nice to have some for its contributions to fertility and its flowers. But to prevent it from dominating the desired grass, the keys are the same as above– overseeding and fixing cultural conditions.

]]> By: Eric Richardson https://www.scottarboretum.org/organic-lawn-one-year-later/#comment-904 Thu, 10 Dec 2015 15:22:25 +0000 http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/?p=3483#comment-904 What practices if any do you use to control broadleaf weeds in this particular plot of turfgrass?

Thanks,
Eric

]]> By: Nicole Selby https://www.scottarboretum.org/organic-lawn-one-year-later/#comment-903 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:49:45 +0000 http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/?p=3483#comment-903 The organic lawn took a noticeable dip toward dormancy over the scorching Fourth of July weekend, and it brightened up to green again with those August rains. Both basically matched the performance of our conventional lawns. We do hope to achieve even better drought tolerance, in time. One step toward that end is coming soon: In September, we’ll topdress with a 1/4″ layer of compost. Over the years, repeating this process will increase the organic matter in the soil substantially. As with any garden bed, that is a great way to retain moisture. On turf, you have to build up slowly so you don’t smother the established plants.

]]> By: Gian-Angelo Gallace https://www.scottarboretum.org/organic-lawn-one-year-later/#comment-902 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:34:53 +0000 http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/?p=3483#comment-902 How has the lawn fared in the heat of the summer of 2012?

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