Toronto Master Gardener Factsheet    

Caring for your lawn in an environmentally friendly way can be as cost-effective as more traditional methods of lawn care. Weed control, fertilization and insect and disease control can be approached using environmentally friendly means.

Fertilizing the lawn

A healthy lawn is far less susceptible to the ravages of disease and insects. Thick lawns seldom allow weed seeds to make contact with the earth, thus reducing the need for weed control.

Fertilizers should meet the nutritional requirements of the lawn and contain an appropriate balance of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. In addition, micronutrients including copper, zinc, magnesium will improve the overall health of the lawn.

If your lawn is in bad shape, fertilize four times the first year following the rates recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to buy your fertilizer from a well-known dealer and ask for "organic" lawn care products.

As an added boost, top-dress your lawn once or twice a year with compost at a rate of 100 pounds per 1,000 square feet, but be certain that no chemicals have gone into the making of your compost.

Controlling weeds

Common perennial weeds as dandelion, plantain, bedstraw and chickweed are best controlled by hand picking. Since annual weeds including fleabane, purslane, ragweed and thyme-leaved sandwort are killed by winter you can let nature help you out. Those that survive the nasty Canadian winters can be hand-pulled in the spring. Always hand-pull after a rainfall using a pronged tool designed especially for the job. Make sure you get out all of the root.

Once the weeds are under control and your fertilized lawn is starting to thicken up, you can spot zap the stubborn ones with a mixture of 3 tablespoons of white vinegar in a pint of warn water. Squirt this from a window cleaner type of bottle. Do the job on a sunny day between 1 and 3 pm when the temperature is 65-80°F.

Controlling insects

Again, a healthy lawn will be far less likely to invite bugs. Nevertheless, some of the problem ones like grubs may already be present (See Grubs). One control is the application of nematodes specifically targeted to the larval stage of the grub. Boost your lawn's health by correcting drainage problems, proper mowing and watering correctly.

Mowing practices

Set your mower at 2 1/2 or even 3 inches. At this length the grass shades out weeds and helps conserve soil moisture. Also, the longer the blades above ground, the deeper the roots below ground, and so the plant is more able to handle stress. Mow frequently, and allow grass clippings to stay on the ground - it's free fertilizer. If the clippings are too thick, let them dry before raking them up and adding them to the compost or using as mulch.

Watering practices

Water your lawn deeply, leaving the sprinkler on for a couple of hours. Frequent, shallow waterings will lead to a small, shallow root system and a plant that will stress easily. Water in the early morning; evening watering encourages disease.

 

Factsheets are produced by the Toronto Master Gardeners in association with the Toronto Botanical Garden. They provide introductory information about a broad range of horticultural topics and are intended for personal use and study purposes. Should your gardening group or organization wish to use multiple copies we ask that you inform the Toronto Botanical Garden at info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.

Date revised: This factsheet was created prior to May 2005.