April Almanac

Is there an organic equivalent to the chemical crabgrass preventer that are usually put down in April or May?

Hey Everybody!

Welcome to the April edition of my e-newsletter. Last month I said you would learn about corn and tea. These are things your lawn loves and vice versa.

Corn gluten meal is a nutrient rich by-product of the ethanol process.Researchers at Iowa State University discovered that the right amounts of corn gluten meal at the correct time disrupted the germination of seeds (weed seeds included).

The correct amount is about 20 lbs. and the most effective time to apply is late April or early May,or when the lilacs are in bloom.I prefer to remember it this way because I’ve loved lilacs since I was a boy and picked them for my Mom and Grandma from shrubs growing along Grandma’s lane.

This springtime application of corn gluten mealwill help prevent crabgrass in July and August.I apply it again in late August to keep fall-germinating weeds from sprouting.Isn’t that great?!

And now for a really great product….compost tea!! We brew this tea from the best ingredients we can get our grubby little hands on.The rich brown earthy smelling liquid is a concentration of all the beneficial microbes in a healthy ecologically mature soil.We apply this tea to your lawn,landscape plants,and gardens.These microbes aerate the soil,release nutrients bound-up in your soil,and let air,water,and roots penetrate more deeply. They correct all kinds of soil problems that cause weeds.

Compost tea isn’t available for public application at this time but I would be happy to give an estimate to anyone who is interested.Just e-mail or call me at 952-240-0814.

Have Fun!

Organic Bob

Word of the Day:

corn gluten meal
Corn gluten meal is a by-product of corn processing that has been used as an animal feed ingredient and now as an organic week and feed product.

How does corn gluten meal supress weeds?

A. It ferments producing alcohol and burns weeds.
B. It sticks to weed leaves and smothers them.
C. It interferes with the germination of seeds.
D. It makes grass stong and healthy so that the grass can smother weeds.
Answer below.

Quick Tip:

Set your mower at 3″ high. This shades the soil keeping grass roots cool and moist and weed seeds in the dark where they can’t germinate. Your grass will also grow slower and require less water.

Advice of the Day:

Never lie. A stranger doesn’t warrant it and a loved one only gets hurt.

Answer:C.

Bel’s Corner

The dog is Morgan and the cat is Curiosity. Did you know that organic food comes from organic yards and that stuff is GOOD! When my dad sprays the compost tea on your lawn in a few seconds, it starts working. My lawn used to be a trash can until he sprayed compost tea on our grass. The backyard grass is green even where the dog does her “bisniss”. Hee-hee! “Cat got out. Got her. Kan you do the KanKan? Kan you do the KanKan?”