The Importance of Using Organic Weed Control in the Spring
The University of Minnesota Extension Service stresses the importance of getting Minnesota lawn weeds under control in the spring. There are 2 organic methods that are most effective accomplishing this: corn gluten and cultural practices.
Corn Gluten: Organic Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Corn gluten is a byproduct of the wet-milling process of corn and is an effective pre-emergent weed control that can prevent many annual weeds, like crabgrass, over time. The protein in the corn gluten acts on germinating seeds to inhibit root growth. Organic Lawns by LUNSETH uses non-GMO, organic corn gluten meal (CGM).
Timing and application rates greatly affect the success of corn gluten meal. The best time to apply it is in the early spring. Heavy rates are necessary for weed prevention. U of M Extension says that for control of annual summer grasses such as crabgrass, either apply it in early May, or once the temperature in the top inch of soil, measured early in the day, is consistently in the 50 to 55 °F range .
An added benefit to corn gluten is it also contains 10% nitrogen by weight and has a slow-release fertilizing effect when applied to home lawns.
Cultural Practices
Cultural practices offer a completely organic solution to weed control. It’s hard because you do all the work, but it’s very effective because it generates habits and processes that consistently favors the grass plants rather than the weeds.
The U of M Extension offers these cultural control solutions:
- Raising or lowering mowing height.
- Changing how often you mow.
- Lengthening or shortening time between watering.
- Increasing or decreasing how much and how often you apply fertilizer.
- Aerating the soil by allowing air, water and nutrients to reach the grass roots.
- Hand-weeding or pulling weeds is also an effective way to get rid of weeds from small lawn areas.
The best time to pull weeds is after a good rain or thorough watering. Hand-weeding is low-cost but labor-intensive. Several tools on the market will help when you’re hand-pulling weeds.
A combination of proper cultural practices and use of corn gluten as a pre-emergent herbicide is a good approach to controlling lawn weeds organically and effectively. If you have a question using corn gluten on your yard or would like help getting your yard ready for spring and summer, contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH.
