Pet-Friendly and Child-Safe Weed Control

Having a weed free lawn and garden and being friendly to the environment don’t have to be at odds with each other. There are a variety of organic options for getting rid of weeds to put your mind at ease and to help you to have a great-looking lawn and yard. But using organic options may mean more of an investment time-wise. Let’s find out more.

Pulling Weeds By Hand

There’s nothing more back-to-basics than old fashioned weed pulling. It’s almost always your best bet to remove the plant and the roots. Using a hoe to cut off the top of the plant, especially with deep rooted weeds like dandelions, means you’ll be back out with that hoe very soon. Instead, there are number of tools on the market to help you get to the root of the problem. Removing weeds is easier after a fresh rain when the soil is moist.
Take the time in early spring to remove the weeds that have begun to spring up. Weeding out established plants mid-growing season is always more difficult and frustrating. As best you can, pull the weeds before they flower or especially before the flowers begin to drop. If the seeds have a chance to reach the soil you may be pulling weeds all season.

Use Compost

Whether you’ve been composting your kitchen waste all year or you buy compost at the garden centre, your soil will thank you. Commercially available organic fertilizers may be more expensive than synthetic fertilizers.
Compost is important because it releases the nutrients back into the soil gradually over a longer period of time as it breaks down. Just remove the bottom layer of good organic material from your composter and spread by hand or with a spreader in the spring or fall.
One caution when composting yard waste, avoid adding weeds that have flowered. Those are best delivered to the city for yard waste collection because the offending seeds will end up in your compost and back on your lawn. It is safe to compost those early spring weeds you’ve pulled from the garden as those won’t have developed seed pods and will simply break down. Used coffee grounds turned into the dirt are said to be helpful compost material as well.

Plant Wisely

Overseeding your lawn and planting close together in the garden will reduce the bare patches and open spots that weeds are especially attracted to. (Some plants, such as roses, are susceptible to mold and mildew, and require space.) Plants that attract good wildlife may be the answer to the insects and other pests you want rid of. Amphibians, reptiles, and spiders all consume undesirables such as aphids, mites, and mice.

Weed ‘n Feed

If you’ve been reading the above tips and thinking these options require a lot of time - this is often true. There are a number of organic weed ‘n feed options available on the market that adhere to Ontario’s herbicide bans such as corn gluten meal – which is known as a natural weed suppressant.
What to learn more? Ask the experts at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa for the best organic weed control options available and schedule a free consultation to discuss what you can do to improve the look and feel of your lawn. Contact us today!