Mowing - Let it grow! Close frequent cutting stresses grass plants and exposes weed seedlings to the life-giving sun.

Fertilizer - Chemical fertilizers add salt to the soil, kill soil- building microorganisms, promote soil compaction, shallow roots, thatch and fungus growth. Substitute grass clippings, compost and manure to return needed bacteria and enzymes to the soil with nutrients.

Plant Earthworms - They'll eat the cut grass, aerate the soil and provide castings for free fertilizer.

Water - During dry periods, allow your lawn to enter a natural dormancy. Or, plant tall fescue, which is adapted to drought conditions and does not require summer irrigation.

Pesticides - Healthy lawns don't have insect problems. Weed killers can harm gardens, trees, shrubs and breed resistant weeds. Pesticides kill worms and beneficial insects.

Dandelions - Cut out by hand at the root, several inches below ground. If you can learn to tolerate them, they only look "bad" twice a year, and a quick mow fixes that.

Fungus - A problem only in wet, thatchy, over-fertilized lawns. Drain, dry-out, de-thatch, re-add soil bacteria with compost or manure.

Aerate - Compacted soil promotes weeds. Aerate twice a year and add a soil loosener like gypsum or compost. Reseed bare spots.

Test - Compacted soil's ph, composition and nutrient level to determine its condition.

Species - Choose the proper grass to plant for your area. Pick varieties that resist drought, disease, need little mowing or fertilizer, choke out weeds and are suited to foot traffic. Switch to groundcovers in hard to maintain areas

Tips on Composting
can be found on the links below


What is Composting?

When is Compost Finished?

Using Finished Compost

Benefits of Compost

Benefits of Compost Nutrients

Analysis of Green Earth Compost