Chemical Treatments in Lawn Maintenance: Assessing Their Toxicity Levels
Organic Fertilizers and Grass Seeds for a Lush Lawn
In the world of gardening, it's essential to have the right tools and products to maintain a healthy, vibrant lawn. Here's a roundup of some popular choices, including organic fertilizers and grass seeds designed for various conditions.
Corn Gluten Granulated Organic Fertilizer
Corn Gluten Granulated Organic Fertilizer is a dual-purpose product that functions both as a slow-release organic fertilizer and a pre-emergent weed control agent. With its ability to supply nitrogen for plant growth and inhibit weed seed germination, it's an excellent choice for organic lawn and garden maintenance.
Benefits
- Dual Purpose: Corn gluten meal provides nitrogen to plants while inhibiting the germination of common weeds like dandelions, crabgrass, and lambsquarter.
- Weed Prevention: It prevents weed seeds from sprouting by interfering with root formation during the seed germination phase, effectively starving young weeds of water.
- Organic and Non-Toxic: Being an organic product, it is safe for use in vegetable gardens and around desired plants once established, avoiding synthetic herbicides’ chemical risks.
- Soil Nourishment: Supplies nitrogen which is essential for vigorous plant growth, improving lawn and garden plant health over time.
Best Practices for Use
- Timing: Apply early in the growing season before weed seeds have sprouted, ideally when soil is moist and rain is forecasted to activate the protein effects.
- Avoid Application on Sprouted Plants/Seeds: Do not apply on already sprouted weeds or newly planted seeds/seedlings as corn gluten inhibits germination broadly, risking damage to desired plants started from seeds.
- Moist Soil Required but Not Consistently Wet: It requires a period of soil drying (desiccation) following application to work effectively; excessive constant moisture impairs its weed control function.
- Use as Part of Integrated Weed Management: It is best combined with other weed control strategies like mowing, proper irrigation, and occasionally spot treatment herbicides for reliable results.
- Spread Evenly: Granules should be spread uniformly over garden beds or lawns for consistent coverage and effectiveness.
Limitations
- Corn gluten meal is not a direct herbicide and results can be variable, especially under field conditions or highly moist soils.
- It primarily controls weed seeds and does not eliminate established weeds.
- Careful management is needed to avoid preventing germination of desirable crops planted from seed.
In summary, Corn Gluten Granulated Organic Fertilizer is an organic, slow-release fertilizer that also serves to prevent weed seed germination when applied correctly—early, on moist but not wet soil, and before weed emergence—making it valuable for organic lawn and garden maintenance combined with other cultural practices.
Other Products Mentioned
- Wildflower Farms Eco-Lawn Grass Seed - 5 lb
- Premium Drinking Water Safe Garden Hose - Slim 7/16"
- Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food with SummerGuard - 20 lbs and 40 lbs
- Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed - Sun Mix - 10 lbs, Shade Mix - 10 lbs, and Sun & Shade Mix - 3 lbs and 10 lbs
- Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun & Shade Mix - 5 lbs
- Milky Spore Powder Japanese Beetle Control - 10 oz
This article was written by Greg Seaman and published on January 28, 2022.
Adopting a sustainable lifestyle extends beyond the garden to your home, encompassing your home-and-garden choices. For instance, switching to the Corn Gluten Granulated Organic Fertilizer fosters a sustainable living approach within your lifestyle, as it provides dual benefits of slow-release organic fertilization and pre-emergent weed control. Moreover, incorporating eco-friendly lawn care products such as Wildflower Farms Eco-Lawn Grass Seed is another step towards harmonious living with the environment in your home-and-garden landscape.
