Author: Organic Lawns by Lunseth

Fertilizer and Weed Control in the Fall Helps Your Lawn in the Spring

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Applying organic fertilizer and weed control in the fall is important. The fertilizer provides slow-release nutrients that strengthen root systems, store energy for winter survival, and improve the overall health of plants and soil. Organic weed control makes it harder for weeds to overwinter, helping your lawn have less weeds in spring by winning the competition with weeds for resources. Using fertilizer and weed control in the fall leads to a more resilient lawn and better plant growth in the spring.

Benefits of Fall Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizers build a healthy soil ecosystem and improve soil quality over time, creating a sustainable foundation for healthy plants.

Promotes Root Growth

As plants shift to root development in the fall, organic fertilizers provide essential nutrients for strong root systems, improving their ability to survive harsh conditions.

Supports Nutrient Storage

Fall fertilization helps plants store essential nutrients in their roots and other tissues, providing a reserve to survive winter dormancy and fuel new growth in the spring.

Enhances Winter Resilience

The stored nutrients and strengthened root systems make plants more resistant to winter stress, diseases, and environmental damage, improving their overall survival and health.

Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly, providing a steady supply of food to plants throughout the fall and spring.

Improves Soil Health

Unlike synthetic fertilizers, organic options directly contribute to improving the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, creating a healthier environment for plants to thrive.

Organic fertilizers feed beneficial soil microbes, which improve soil structure over time. This fosters a healthier, more sustainable soil ecosystem.

Encourages Earlier Spring Growth

The nutrients stored over winter give plants a head start in the spring, allowing for faster green-up and earlier, and stronger, growth.

Recovers from Summer Stress

Organic fertilizers can help repair damage from summer heat, drought, and heavy foot traffic by replenishing nutrients and promoting overall recovery.

Why Fall is Key for Organic Weed Control

Fall is the best time for organic weed control because it , targets perennial weeds when they’re at their weakest, and allows for a healthy, weed-free lawn in spring by outcompeting weeds for resources.

Targeting Perennial Weeds

Broadleaf perennials like dandelions and clover move nutrients to their roots for winter storage in the fall. Applying organic controls now is more effective at suppressing the entire plant, including its roots. The plants are unable to recover before winter, meaning they have a lower chance of returning in the spring.

Promotes a Healthy Spring Lawn

By suppressing weeds in the fall, you help your grass better compete for the necessary water, sunlight, and nutrients needed to be strong and dense in the spring.

The Right Grass Seed Leads to Spring Success

The seed used at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH is specially selected for winter resilience, ice cover tolerance, and disease resistance. Contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to take the first step toward a greener, healthier, chemical-free lawn in 2026.

Why Choosing the Right Grass Seed Matters – Especially in Minnesota

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At Organic Lawns by LUNSETH we believe organic lawn care is about working with nature—not against it. And that starts with understanding the unique conditions of our state and selecting the right grass seed for the job. This month we review why the right seed matters, the best types of grass seed for Minnesota lawns, and red flags about generic seed mixes.

Minnesota’s Climate: A Lawn-Care Challenge and Opportunity

Minnesota lawns face a wide range of conditions throughout the year—icy winters, wet springs, humid summers, and dry spells in between. That means your grass seed needs to be hardy, adaptable, and suited for cool-season growth.

Unlike other parts of the country, Minnesota lawns do best with cool-season grasses—varieties that thrive in spring and fall, when temperatures are milder.

Why the Right Seed Matters in Organic Lawn Care

Organic lawn care relies on building long-term soil health and resilience. The wrong seed makes achieving those goals difficult by requiring more water, more fertilizers, or more pesticides—exactly what we’re trying to avoid.

Here’s why buying the right seed pays off:

  • Reduced Weed Pressure – High-quality, allelopathic, grass seed creates a thick, healthy lawn that naturally crowds out weeds..
  • Less Watering –  low-maintenance grass species require less irrigation.
  • Stronger Roots – The right grass seed means deeper roots, which equals better drought resistance and less stress.
  • Fewer Inputs – You won’t need to add synthetic fertilizers or harsh chemicals when your lawn is already thriving.

Top Grass Types for Minnesota Lawns

Our friends at the University of Minnesota Extension Service provide excellent guidance for choosing the right grass seed for your lawn.  Here are their recommendations.

Fine fescues

This species includes 5 fescues:

  • strong creeping red (most tolerant of tree shade)
  • slender creeping red
  • hard (the most drought-tolerant)
  • Chewings (most tolerant of tree shade)
  • Sheep (lowest maintenance)

Fine fescue is drought, shade, and salt-tolerant, but doesn’t do well in extreme heat. It has lower maintenance requirements, including less irrigation, mowing, and fertilizing. But, do not mow in the summer heat. Fertilize in the fall if needed.

A mix of strong creeping red, Chewings, and hard fescue is excellent for home lawns.

Tall fescue

Tall fescue is one of the most drought-tolerant turfgrasses for Minnesota due to deep, extensive roots. And it can be used in the shade. It also tolerates wear and traffic. Be patient, though, because it has a slow spring green-up.

Make sure to purchase turf-type tall fescues for lawns. Seeding in the spring helps the grass survive winter better in the first year. Do not plant in areas that hold ice in the winter.

Beware of Cheap or Generic Seed Mixes

Not all grass seed is created equal. Many big-box store brands contain:

  • Low germination rates
  • Invasive weed seeds
  • Species that don’t perform well in Minnesota’s climate

That’s why LUNSETH always recommend buying regionally appropriate, high-quality, and preferably certified organic grass seed from trusted suppliers. Our general rules include

  • When in doubt, buy the most expensive because it’s most likely to germinate
  • Don’t buy anything that includes unknown varieties
  • Try not to buy anything that says annual because it won’t overwinter
  • Look at the back of the seed bag and follow the below guidelines:

Purity > 85%
Germination > 85%
Weed seed < 0.3%
Other crop < 0.5%
Inert matter < 8%
Date tested = within the last 9-months

 

Need Help Choosing the Right Grass Seed?

Let our team take the guesswork out of grass seed selection. Whether you’re starting a new lawn or overseeding an old one, we help homeowners choose and sow seed blends that are tailored to their soil, sun conditions, and usage needs—without compromising your organic goals. Contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to take the first step toward a greener, healthier, chemical-free lawn

 

Hearty and Drought Tolerant Grasses

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The Twin Cities has had consistent rainfall during the summer of 2025, with many of the storms being torrential.  Research shows that this is part of a new weather pattern created by climate change, and now we’re approaching the time of year when we can go for long stretches without significant rain. But you have options to help maintain your lawn during these extreme conditions.

Weather Extremes – More Rain & More Drought

The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership predicts that as climate change continues, “we expect more frequent and intense heavy rain events, with long dry periods in between.” They go on to say that “the length of consecutive dry days (CDD) is projected to increase more in the Midwest than in any region in the United States, up to 25% by 2100. This means that if we historically expected a dry period to last 8 days, we might expect it to last 10 days in the end of this century. We also expect a decrease in overall summer precipitation and a decrease in light rain events, but an increase in moderate and heavy rain events.

Turf Options

This is the time when our yards are getting a combination of the most intense sunlight and extreme heat of the season.  Many grasses will reach their wilting point and will go dormant under these conditions.  Luckily, grasses won’t start to die until they have 40 days of no moisture. But there are many varieties of grasses that can tolerate these environments better, leaving you with a green lawn even during drought.

The University of Minnesota Extension Service recommends tall fescue and fine fescue for Minnesota lawns.  They state that “these grasses can remain green for at least 28 days without water. Tall fescue is especially known for its heat and drought tolerance.

“Among the fine fescues, hard fescues have excellent drought tolerance. Chewings fescue and slender creeping red fescue have good to excellent drought tolerance. And strong creeping red fescues have good drought tolerance.”

Contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to learn how to convert your turf to a drought tolerant lawn. 

Managing Crabgrass and Other Weeds

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The Twin Cities’ excessive rainfall this year has been great for our lawns. Weeds already compete with your turfgrass during the hot months of the summer, and the spring rains gave them a jumpstart. This month we’ll help you identify the most common weeds you’re seeing and provide natural best practices to control them.

Crabgrass

The University of Minnesota Extension Service describes crabgrass as a prolific weed that survives harsh conditions through its abundant tillering (creation of shoots other than the main shoot) and seed production. One crabgrass plant can produce up to 150,000 seeds in a single season. Crabgrass seed germination occurs in the spring, when soil has an average temperature high enough to support growth. These seeds produce even more crabgrass plants over the summer.

There are steps you can take to control crabgrass:

  • The best way to control crabgrass is in the early spring, applying a pre-emergent herbicide – Corn Gluten –  before the soil temperatures reach approximately 55°F.
  • Keeping your mowing height to a minimum of 3 inches helps decrease crabgrass seed germination. 
  • One of the best strategies to combat crabgrass, and other weeds in general, is to maintain a healthy lawn.

Chickweed

Chickweed is challenging because of its ability to grow in a variety of conditions.  PennState Extension says it’s found in both high and low maintenance turf, in sunny and shaded areas, and in many different soil types. Common chickweed stems grow close to the ground then turn slightly upright, producing leaves and flowers. It’s generally classified as a winter annual. It produces shallow root systems and long, branching stems that grow prostrate along the soil surface. Seeds can germinate during spring, summer, and fall. Common chickweed produces one or two generations per year.

Common chickweed can be controlled with three to four applications of liquid iron each year. However, mouse-ear chickweed can tolerate iron applications due to the trichomes on the leaves. Improving turf density through non-chemical fertilization, regular mowing, and use of turfgrasses well-adapted to site conditions also helps. The University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources provides these guidelines for natural control:

  • Nonchemical controls include hand weeding, cultivation, and adding mulch to garden beds.
  • Chickweed should be controlled before it flowers. This can be difficult due to the short period between germination and flower production. However, regular monitoring and removal of plants from the site will prevent seeds from developing and accumulating in the soil (seed bank).
  • It’s important not only to remove the plants from the ground but also to remove them from the site. Common chickweed can re-root from stem nodes in moist areas.

Chances are, you see other weeds in your lawn. Some of the most common are:

Dandelions
Dutch white clover
Ground ivy (creeping Charlie)
Quackgrass
Wild violet (common blue violet)

Following the management guidelines we provided can help manage weeds.   Contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to create the best organic weed control program for your yard.

How Organic Compost Tea Improves Soil Quality and the Health of your Lawn

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Organic compost tea is a water-based extract of compost that can be effectively used in organic turf management. It’s made of just two simple ingredients: compost and water. Good compost is successfully aerated, alllowing it to maintain oxygen levels necessary for aerobic functioning. It’s also necessary that the compost consists of the right balance of chemical compounds, is rich in nutrients, and contains beneficial microorganisms.

Why Have Your Lawn Treated with Compost Tea?

Organic compost tea has a number of positive effects on your lawn, including:

  • Adds nutrients to your lawn.

Compost tea contains a number of important macronutrients that are beneficial to your lawn—including magnesium and potassium, while also containing helpful micronutrients, such as iron and zinc. Applying such nutrients can boost overall soil quality.

  • Reaches important areas of your lawn.

Compost tea reaches deep into the soil, it also comes into contact with leaves, and it’s absorbed through foliar feeding.

  • Helps to control weeds.

Adding compost tea improves soil quality, which in effect discourages weed growth (notably, some weeds thrive in lawns that don’t contain a sufficient amount of nutrients).

  • Helps with repelling insects.

Compost tea can contain microbes effective against chitin, a biopolymer that forms the exoskeletons of insects; it can also improve overall plant quality in a way that makes plants less susceptible to harmful insects in the first place.

  • Helps with plant disease control:

According to the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, compost tea has shown some promise in controlling diseases in plants when applied as root drench—helping against some soil-borne diseases.

Applying Organic Compost Tea To Your Lawn

During the application process, LUNSETH blanket applies the aerated compost tea to your entire lawn. The lawn will green up quickly, so results are seen right away. This is a great way to give your lawn a mid-season boost.

Adding compost tea to your organic lawn care plan can be an effective means of increasing microorganisms, improving your soil quality and the overall health of your lawn. By applying compost tea you can trust that you’re utilizing a safe, organic solution that excludes pesticides and synthetic chemicals.

If you’re interested in having a yard filled with color this summer, contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to create the best program for your yard.

Your Yard will Bloom All Season with Pollinator Friendly Plants

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This summer and fall you can have continuous blooms when you design your landscape with native plants.The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has a great publication that explains how native plants are the prefered food sources of pollinators and – with the right plan – provide a yard full of color until the first frost. Here are their recommendations.

Most pollinators are adapted to native plant communities. Which is why native plantings provide the best support for native pollinator species.

  • Continuous bloom throughout the growing season helps ensure pollinators have food when they need it. This allows them to conserve energy by not having to travel long distances when blooms are scarce. Include an assortment of flower colors, sizes, shapes and scents to attract a variety of pollinators.
  • Grouping plants together looks amazing and can help pollinators find and access resources more easily. It also is a way to create a sense of order in your planting
  • Buy Locally Produced Native Plants: this helps protect nearby native plant communities and provides plant species that are sure to be compatible with local insect populations. (see plant lists and Wild Ones resources)

Where you buy your plants is very important. Some nurseries treat their plants with insecticides and fungicides that are harmful to pollinators in your garden.

  • Best Selections: LUNSETH can provide information on specific plant species that provide excellent pollen and nectar resources for native bees, monarchs, and other pollinators.

LUNSETH also recommends the best plants for your landscape based on your site conditions (soil, water, light, space). Our installations are planted with growth in mind. They will look great on installation and fill in over time to look better and better every year.

If you’re interested in having a yard filled with color this summer, contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to create the best program for your yard.

Maintaining New Lawns

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Last month we reviewed the process for a sustainable lawn renovation.  This month we provide tips to give your new yard its best chance of thriving. The University of Maryland Extension provides excellent guidance.

Watering

  • Once seed germination has begun do not let the seed dry out
  • A newly seeded lawn requires daily watering during dry periods. 
  • If there’s a stretch of windy and dry days, your grass may require several light waterings a day.
  • Sandy soils dry out quickly, require more watering, and using a light mist is best.
  • Mature grass seedlings require less frequent watering, but they should be watered longer when you do.
  • It’s best to water earlier in the day so the grass does not remain wet overnight.

Mowing

  • Mowing lawns too short or infrequently causes grass to become susceptible to drought injury, weed infestations (especially crabgrass), and foot traffic injury.
  • Mow new turf when it reaches a height one-third higher than your normal mowing height. Usually this is four to six weeks after seeding.
  • Remove only one-third of the grass’s height in each following mowing. Removing too much of the leaf blade at each cutting stresses the new lawn.
  • Soil should be dry enough so that ruts are not formed by the wheels of the lawnmower.
  • Mowing typically needs to be done on a weekly basis during the growing season.

Fertilizing

  • Follow-up applications of fertilizer are made as part of a regular maintenance program.  
  • Organic Lawns by LUNSETH’s organic fertilizer solution provides a proven alternative to chemically-based lawn care — delivering a number of benefits that aren’t possible when treating your lawn synthetically. Being 100% organic means our fertilizers contain a purely balanced food source and do not feature synthetic chemicals that can be detrimental to your health and harsh on your lawn. By hiring us to apply our 100% OMRI-certified organic fertilizer to your lawn, your grass won’t just look great, it’ll be healthy in a way that’s very environmentally advantageous.

Weeds

  • Weeds have been resting all winter and can’t wait to shoot through and start growing.  Thin or bare soil areas combined with sunlight and warm soil temperatures create a perfect opportunity for germination of many of our annual weeds. 
  • These weed seeds aren’t just perennials that lay dormant over the winter. They can be blown in by the wind or be carried in by our bird friends. Early spring is the time to start looking for these intruders and taking steps to reduce their spread. 
  • Read LUNSETH’s Blog Post, “Handle Spring Weeds Now or Pay the Price Later”, to learn about some of the most common weeds we see in Minnesota, along with our tips for getting them under control.

Traffic

  • Young seedlings are easily injured. Newly seeded areas should be restricted from foot traffic for a least a month after the seed has germinated or until the new lawn has been mowed at least a couple of times. 

If you’re interested in having a lush, organic lawn, contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to create the best program for your yard.

Identifying and Controlling Grub Damage

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Grubs have become a real nuisance the past few years. LUNSETH addresses this issue in a number of communities throughout the Twin Cities. How do you know if you’ve got grubs or not?  Our friends at the University of Minnesota Extension Service have excellent information and suggestions for handling grubs..

Identifying Grub Damage

There are several indications that white grubs are damaging your lawn. These include:

  • Irregular patches of dead or dying grass that resemble drought stress.

  • Early signs of a white grub infestation are apparent when an irrigation system has been running or we have had regular rainfall and the drought symptoms are still present.

  • Moderate grub damage involves observing dead or dying turf with little to no roots when pulling on the turf.

  • More severe white grub damage is sometimes not caused by the grubs themselves, but by animals like racoons and skunks turning over the turf to feed on the grubs.

Controlling Grubs

What can you do about grubs? The good news is there are very effective organic solutions to get them under control. The Turfgrass newsletter references a biological insecticide, GrubGone (Baccilus thuringiensis galleriae), as the only known biological insecticide to work effectively. It works as a preventative treatment and needs to be applied in advance of a white grub infestation. 

Contact LUNSETH for a quote on our grub control services. We’ve helped people all around the Twin Cities get their grub damage under control.

Organic Weed Control using Corn Gluten

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Corn gluten is an effective pre-emergent weed control that can prevent many annual weeds, like crabgrass, over time. 

Corn gluten is a byproduct of the wet-milling process of corn.  Organic Lawns by LUNSETH uses non-GMO, organic corn gluten meal (CGM).

The protein in the corn gluten acts on germinating seeds to inhibit root growth.

Corn gluten also contains 10% nitrogen by weight and has a slow-release fertilizing effect when applied to home lawns.

25% control of new weeds can be achieved in the first year; 50% in the second year; and 75% control by the third year. This is due to the reduction in weed seeds and from the effect of nitrogen in the corn gluten increasing the lawn’s density.

Timing and application rates greatly affect the success of corn gluten meal.  The best time to apply corn gluten is in the early spring.  Heavy rates are necessary for weed prevention.

Preparing Your Lawn Before Applying CGM

Before CGM can be applied to your lawn and work in an effective manner, it’s important that some preparation occurs.

A spring cleanup that can include raking leaves and cleaning up debris such as fallen tree limbs and sticks. The product needs to get to the soil to work, thus removing debris in the lawn is an important first step.

CGM & Seeding

Just as it does for weeds, a CGM application can inhibit grass seed germination.

  • If you’re planning to seed the lawn yourself, you should allow 3-to-4 weeks before CGM is applied.
  • If you’re planning to seed after CGM is applied, it’s important you wait 3-to-4 weeks after the CGM application to seed to ensure successful germination.
  • You can seed immediately after the corn gluten meal if you provide a barrier to avoid conflict.  Sowing seed into ¼” layer of new topsoil or compost will work to create this barrier and ensure successful germination. 

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.

Preparing Your Lawn for Spring Topic #1: Snow Mold

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It seems odd to think about taking care of your yard during February in Minnesota. But now is a great time to start planning your lawn care for the upcoming spring, especially if you’re focused on organic lawn care. 

For the next few months, LUNSETH will provide details (with information from the University of Minnesota Extension Service) about common challenges for Minnesota yards, and the recommended organic solutions to deal with them.

What is Snow Mold

When the snowmelt is on and we start to see our lawns appear in Minnesota, most yards have some, or a lot, of snow mold. It’s typically circular patches of matted, greyish grass up to 3 feet in diameter. 

U of M Extension describes snow mold as “…a fungal disease that can be caused by 3 different pathogens (Typhula spp. and Microdochium nivale). All Minnesota lawn grasses can be affected, although fine fescue grasses are less susceptible. Snow mold disease damages grass leaves but usually will not kill the entire plant.” 

Repairing Grass with Snow Mold

Snow mold might look bad, but it shouldn’t permanently damage the lawn. To promote recovery, lightly rake these areas to loosen the matted leaves. Make sure to lift the matted grass completely to let air circulate in that part of the lawn. No chemicals – just a little effort. It doesn’t get any more organic than that.

Timing is important, too. You need to stay off of the lawn until it has a chance to dry out.  Foot traffic on wet, damaged grass can cause even more damage. And, you especially DO NOT want to rake up the snow mold when it’s wet because you’ll end up pulling out your grass plants. Then you’ll have to seed the lawn if you want grass to return.  

Preventing Snow Mold Next year

There are a couple of simple steps to take at the end of the growing season to try and prevent snow mold next spring. First, continue to mow your turf well into the fall.  Second, when snow does come, avoid creating large, long-lasting snowbanks on your grass when shoveling snow from your sidewalks and driveways.

Conclusion

February might feel like the dead of winter in Minnesota, but it’s the perfect time to start planning for a healthy, organic lawn this spring. By planning and scheduling your organic lawn care treatments today, you’ll be ahead of the game when the warm weather finally arrives.

Remember, organic lawn care is all about nurturing the health of your lawn and the environment. By taking small steps now, you’re not only preparing your lawn for a successful year but also creating a sustainable, eco-friendly outdoor space for your family to enjoy. Let’s make this year’s lawn care routine as green and healthy as possible!

If you need help preparing an organic lawn care plan for your yard, reach out to Organic Lawns by LUNSETH today!