CORN GLUTEN MEAL

Crabgrass Buster

A 100-percent weed-free lawn is not only wholly unnatural but it demands regular applications of harsh chemicals that threaten the health of your family, pets, and the environment. A perfect lawn isn’t worth it. Deal with a few weeds. That said, you can defend your lawn from a weed invasion without turning to the toxins. Raise your Lawn mower blade to its highest setting (typically about 3 inches). Taller grass shades out weeds, has deeper roots, and looks more lush.

If crabgrass is a problem, apply corn gluten meal in spring. A by-product of corn processing that’s often used to feed livestock, it has been found to inhibit seed germination. Bear in mind that once the weeds have gone beyond the sprout stage, corn gluten will not affect them. Also, corn gluten doesn’t discriminate between seeds you want to sprout and those you don’t, so avoid using it where you’ve recently sown seeds. It has terrible long-term effects. Studies have found that 3 years after application, it suppressed weeds more thoroughly than it did in the first year.

Corn gluten meal comes in a pellet form, so you can use it in an ordinary spreader. Apply it early in the season, before the soil reaches 55ºF, at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Bonus: Corn gluten meal is a rich source of nitrogen for your grass, so it works just like the popular “weed and-feed” products—only without risking harm to any living thing. You can find corn gluten meal in bulk at many feed stores, or look for bags of Espoma Natural Weed Preventer Plus Lawn Food.