Did I just spend the Most money spent in my life in the past two days? The Lawn Plan with Organic Native Grass Seed!

 Lawn care equipment is not cheap ($1000 so far) but I am going to be paid back and then I provide the free labor. haha.

So the plan is - looking at the lawn - I need to vacuum up leaves first since the mower will not be able to do so. Maybe I'll get the leaf vacuum mulcher soon before we get snow - and I can try it out!! Of course if the leaves are wet then it does not work so well. So then I would first try the "turbo" power on the leaf blower.

So then I use a temperature gauge and when the soil temp is 55 degrees for two days then I spread the preemergent organic herbicide to stop the annual crabgrass. As long as it rains within five days but does NOT rain for the whole germination period - then it should work to prevent 50% or even 60% of the crabgrass.

OK so I use the broadcast spreader to do 15 pounds of corn gluten meal per 1000 square feet. So I get 10 bags at 50 pounds per bag. 34000 sq feet at 15 / 1000 sq ft = 34 x 15 = 510 pounds. So 10 bags is close enough. I can get those locally at a "feed mill." I already emailed them.

OK so then I start weekly mowing in May - not sure what length they cut at but it seems too short and so the stems of the grass are showing as brown. I guess you have to "train" the grass to turn green at a lower height and not just have the stem. But it's healthier to have longer grass so it doesn't dry out so fast. But people want the "Marine" cut look on their grass for golfing or whatever. haha. So I'll have to mess around with that.

Mowing plus blowing the grass off the road - back onto the lawn.  Plus "trimming" the edges... and blowing grass off the patios behind the houses - and off the sidewalks...

So then I start the compost brewing. I use three tablespoons of molasses plus the mature compost (held in cheese cloth - a few bags of it for 15 gallons). So then I stir it every hour or so and let it sit overnight - and go for 24 hours. Then I harvest the tea into the backpack sprayer. I then, with the new nozzle, spray at 3 minutes per gallon with two gallons per 1000 sq. feet. So 6 minutes x 34000 = Three and a Half hours.

So I do that in May and then in June.

Then as the perennial broadleaf "weeds" emerge I use the chelate iron spray to take out the Creeping Charlie and Dandelions, etc. (or maybe I just harvest the dandelions for myself). haha.

 FeHEDTA [chelate iron liquid] is applied to actively growing small weeds in lawns in the spring or in the fall when temperatures are cool, and there is ample moisture. Treatments should be reapplied 4 weeks after the first application for long term control with up to four applications per year.

Then I do "spot" reseeding in the FALL where I took out the "weeds." I need to find an all natural grass seed so that it's totally organic. Some people are completely against even having synthetic fertilizer for the grass seed or GMO seed, etc. https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/ipmnet/Iron%20Herbicide%20Info-UMD-IPMnet.pdf

"Fiesta" product was proven in Canada - so I'll get that - it's pricey! But I think the same price. So $85 for a gallon.  3 blanket applications of Fiesta at 100 mL/m2(3.38 oz/1.2 yd2) applied 3 weeks apart resulted in turf that was 95% weed-free. aka 0.0229167 pound per square foot.

 

 https://www.groworganic.com/collections/native-grass-seed

 There we have it! Cool.

https://mnnativelandscapes.com/products/seed/

OK let's see....

https://mnnativelandscapes.com/product/mnl-economy-backyard-prairie-mix/ 

So 1000 sq feet for $40. If I keep it mowed then maybe it won't look like a prairie? haha.

Still I know one person would really like this I think - and other people want the "weeds" removed.

MNL produces premium, local origin native seed.  All of our native seed is tested for noxious weeds and certified to be of local origin.

So officially NO WEEDS. So if people don't like it then too bad! haha

OK that got censored since it's PRAIRIE but NOT GRASS. So now I'll get just GRASS SEED.

Here it is!

https://mnnativelandscapes.com/product/low-grow-fescue-blend/

Is this "native"?

MUST BE - awesome.

A great low maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional turf.  Our Low Grow Fescue Mix will provide an attractive ground cover that is hardy, requires little to no watering or mowing, and can range from full sun to shade.  It will reach a height of 10-12 inches if left unmown, or can be mowed a couple times per growing season for a shorter look.  It is adapted for soils from sandy to somewhat heavy clay.

 https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-rush/nodding-fescue

yep it's native grass.

 I guess I can't order it now - I'll have to wait till Spring. haha.

OK I plant it in the FALL. 

So the "weeds" will need four treatments of the iron spray. How often - a week apart?

Do not apply to the same area more than 4 times a year.

 Ok so I'll space that out - once a month for end of May, June, July, August.

Then plant grass seed in September.

And do two more compost tea sprays for August and September.

Then October is Leaf clean up again.

Done.