Category: Managing Weeds

Now that you’re spending more time outdoors cutting and maintaining your lawn, you may be wondering how your neighbor always seems to achieve that vibrant green color year after year. And why is it they never seem to have any dandelions or moss growing in their yard but you do?

The answer might be simply that they’re treating their grass with liquid iron. 

What’s Liquid Iron?

Good question! Liquid iron for lawns is an iron-based weed control that’s bound to a chelating agent, which disguises the iron as an amino acid. As a result, broadleaf weeds—such as clover, dandelions, and plantains—think it’s food. And while stubborn weeds end up absorbing too much of the iron, your grass takes in just the right amount, stopping when it’s had enough.

What happens next? Your weeds will end up dying off while your lawn receives the valuable micronutrients it needs to give you that healthy green color you’re after. 

Is Liquid Iron Good for Lawns?

When applied correctly, liquid iron can work wonders for your grass. In addition to killing off weeds, without the use of harmful chemicals, it helps mitigate iron deficiencies in your grass, resulting in healthier and greener lawns. 

Other Benefits of Chelated Liquid Iron for Lawns

• Liquid iron is a non-toxic solution to weed and moss control
• Through the process of iron oxidation, weeds quickly dry up, turn black, shrivel, and die within hours. 
• Results can be seen within hours of first application

When to Apply Liquid Iron to Lawn

At Organic Lawns by LUNSETH, we recommend applying liquid iron around the time dandelions, and other common weeds, are starting to bloom. You may also be able to apply liquid iron in the fall, when the temperature is cool, and there is ample moisture. 

Homeowners often ask us how often to apply liquid iron to lawns. For best results, you may need to repeat the application in 3 to 4 weeks after the first spray. 

To address weeds, such as creeping charlie, clover, plantains, and thistle, 3-4 applications may be necessary; however, you don’t want to apply this treatment to the same area more than 4 times a year max.

Liquid iron may take up to 1 hour to dry, so remember to keep your kids and pets off the lawn until your grass is completely dry.

Note: Your lawn may experience some discoloration after the first application. However, unlike weeds, your grass will rebound.

How Do I Apply Liquid Iron?

Moderately spray the liquid iron in your turf while being mindful of desirable plants around the area and other non-target objects. 

If you or your plants do come into contact with the spray, be sure to rinse off with water, as it can be a mild skin irritant. 

A few words of caution:

Correct application of liquid iron for grass is key to its success. Therefore, be sure you follow these essential rules before you get started:

• If grass has become stressed due to hot temperatures or a drought, avoid application.
• Don’t apply if rainfall is expected within 3 hours of the time of application.
• Don’t apply if the temperature is expected to exceed 85° F.
• Always read instructions carefully before straying
• Call an expert when in doubt!

Need Organic Help with Your Lawn Care?

As a homeowner, you already have enough on your plate. Why not get professional support for your lawn with some help from Organic Lawns by LUNSETH. We offer professional organic lawn care services, including chelated liquid iron applications! 

We’re always here to answer your questions and offer up our best organic solutions. Contact us with questions or concerns at any time. 

Here’s to a beautiful summer and a lusciously green yard ahead!

Looking for an organic alternative to synthetic chemical herbicides? Meet Corn Gluten Meal (CGM), an effective pre-emergent weed preventer used for controlling crabgrass and other common weeds in your lawn.

Organic Corn Gluten Meal 101

Before we discuss the benefits of applying corn gluten to your lawn, let’s first define what it is and how it works:

CGM is a natural by-product of the corn wet milling process. It contains essential nutrients, such as proteins, to inhibit root growth during seed germination. It is also a natural source of nitrogen (9-0-0) to help keep your lawn green and lush. 

The key to CGM is applying it to your lawn before (not after) the germination process begins and weeds have already taken root. 

Note that as this is an organic lawn solution, it will take some time to continue to prevent the seed from germinating naturally. With each year of application, the percentage of how much it prevents will increase (e.g., 25% the first year, 50% the second year, and 75% the third year).

Each year you use CGM, the better the results. This is why most gardeners notice a significant difference in their lawns after the third year of application. Therefore, patience (and timing) is essential to the success of CGM. 

For more information on how CGM works and helpful tips on how to prep your lawn and successfully apply this pre-emergent herbicide for best results please visit our guide, or contact us.

3 Benefits of Corn Gluten Meal for Lawns

Now that you have some background on this organic solution for weed control, let’s review a few benefits you can expect to see in your landscape.

Natural Weed Control

You probably guessed this one already, but even the most seasoned gardeners struggle with weed growth in their yards. 

CGM stops weeds/seeds before they start. By halting cell division in the roots, which seeds rely on to grow during the germination process, CGM helps you get to the ‘root’ cause of your weed problem. And as we noted, the longer you use CGM on your lawn, the more effective it becomes.

Better for Lawn Care

In addition to ridding your lawn of weed growth, CGM won’t harm the surrounding trees and plant life in the process. Because CGM is a natural solution, you don’t need to worry about it changing your soil’s pH or damaging your grass.

Don’t forget, CGM is high in nitrogen (9%), which means it supplies your soil with the food it needs to thrive.

Non-Toxic = No Worries

Aside from the fact that synthetic chemical herbicides cause damage to our soil, grass, and surrounding vegetation, they are also health hazards to our kids and pets. Because CGM is natural, you don’t need to worry about your family coming into contact with toxic chemicals.

Though CGM isn’t harmful, it’s recommended you try to keep ‘Fido’ away from CGM until you water it for the first time. Though CGM is an ingredient in some pet foods, it can give your pets a tummy ache if they eat too much of it in its raw form. Watering it in will reduce or eliminate your pet’s ability to consume it.

Ready for Organic Weed Control?

CGM might just be what you need! Of course, in order for it to be successful, timing and proper application is essential. That’s where we can help!

At Organic Lawns by Lunseth, we have years of experience in carefully and effectively applying OMRI-certified corn gluten to lawns and achieving impressive results that protect your lawn and the environment. 

If you’d like to get started, or if you have more questions about this organic method, we encourage you to contact us today!