Organic Lawn Care

  No two bags of grass seed are created equal, which can make knowing what type to purchase a challenge. Push past all the marketing gimmicks and fancy wording—choosing grass seed is all about reading the specifics on the label. Grass seed labels can include a mix of numbers, percentages and industry terminology. Below, we decipher the most common items found on a seed label so that you can make smart decisions when it comes time to purchase your own seed or hire a company to put seed down for you. Pure Seed/Purity Purity is the percent, by weight, of pure seed of each component in the mixture. Not all pure seed is live seed. Look for percentages over 97.5—the higher the better. Variety/Kind Variety is the specific type of grass included. Do not buy seed that does not list the variety. Variety not stated (VNS) seed lots often include older varieties not well adapted to lawns. Germination Tells how much of each pure seed variety included will sprout (the amount of live seed in the b...

Weed control can be a frustrating process for any homeowner, but it becomes even more challenging when dealing with weeds during the winter months.  The Best Conditions for Winter Weeds Weeds need specific conditions to grow in the winter. The environmental conditions in which winter weeds flourish include: Water-logged soils Air temperatures between 60°F and 85°F, five days and nights consecutively Soil temperatures between 50°F and 55°F, five days and nights consecutively What Are the Most Common Winter Weeds? Corn Speedwell Corn speedwell is a flower-bearing winter annual that germinates in the fall. During mild fall weather, corn speedwell can grow and spread quickly. Corn speedwell grows in thin, low-quality turfgrass and in soil with low nutrient levels (especially nitrogen). How Do I Control Corn Speedwell? Corn speedwell control tactics include proper nitrogen levels for healthy turfgrass, as well as aeration and seeding for cool-season grasses in fall. Henbit Henbit, somet...