How To Have A Perfect Lawn Without Using Pesticides

Now more than ever it seems like many homes are using pesticides for their lawn care. Pesticides are chemicals that are used to kill weeds and insects. Most commonly sold products are labeled “weed and feed.”

According to Earthy Easy, “of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked with cancer or carcinogenicity, 13 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 26 with liver or kidney damage, 15 with neurotoxicity, and 11 with disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system. Of those same pesticides, 17 are detected in groundwater, 23 have the ability to leach into drinking water sources, 24 are toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms vital to our ecosystem, 11 are toxic to bees, and 16 are toxic to birds.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in a study of 9,282 people nationwide, found pesticides in 100% of the people who had both blood and urine tested. The average person carried 13 of 23 pesticides tested. Staying off the lawn for a few days after application or until the first rainfall will not lessen the risk. “

Those statistics are concerning. Ask yourself this question. Knowing this information, is the health of you and your family worth the risk of having a beautiful weed-free lawn? Is the trade-off worth it? Did you know that you can have a naturally beautiful lawn, free of weeds without using these harmful products?

Here are some tips to help prevent and eliminate weeds naturally:

Overseed Your Lawn

The best defense against weeds is by crowding them out and not allowing space for them to develop or grow. The best way to crowd out weeds is by overseeding your lawn.

What is overseeding? It’s spreading a layer of seed over your existing lawn. The grass will die at the end of the season and when this happens you give your lawn an opportunity to have space for weeds to grow. By overseeding, you allow your lawn the opportunity to replace the dead grass. Overseeding also gives your lawn the opportunity to grow in thick and lush.

When should you overseed?

The best time to overseed depends on what part of the United States you live.

In the Northern United States, the best time to overseed is in the fall. Although depending on the age of your lawn you can overseed in both spring and fall. It’s important to try and overseed before the first frost in the fall. In the south, the best time for overseeding is in the spring.

According to Get Sunday, regardless of the season, if you’re crunched on time, overseeding can be viable anytime temperatures are between 40 to 90 degrees.

Get Sunday’s guide to overseeding

Before you overseed, determine your existing grass type. This is key to the success of your lawn.

Pick up the appropriate seed mix for your grass type from your local nursery.
Mow your lawn a hair shorter than usual. Adjusting your mower’s blade so more than ⅓ of the grass blades are cut during mowing will create more space for the seeds to reach the soil.
Bag the clippings if you can.
Rake out excessive thatch and remove any debris.
Use a seed spreader to spread the seeds across your lawn according to the advised lbs/per square feet based on the seed type or blend you’re using.
Stand back and admire your work!

PRO TIP: Watering is vital to initiate seed germination and to get young grass to grow. Make sure your lawn doesn’t dry out but don’t overwater it either. It all depends on your climate. Many areas in NE (i.e. Boston) and NW (i.e. Portland) may not have to water at all, while drier areas like the Texas panhandle may need to water every day until seeds germinate.

Natural Weed Killers

You can get rid of weeds without harmful pesticides! Did you know that you can make a natural weed killer with essential oils and natural products that you have in your home?

It’s important to only use the natural weed killer directly on the weed. Do not get it on the grass, because it will kill the grass. It can take days to a few weeks for the natural remedy to kill the weed.

Ingredients For Natural Weed Killer

Another way to get rid of weeds is by pulling them. This can be labor-intensive, especially if your yard has a lot of weeds. There is a great tool you can use. It’s called a Grampa Weeder. It’s a stand-up weed puller with a long handle that will grab the weed by the root.

Regardless of your method of getting rid of weeds, there will be bare spots left behind. Once the weeds are removed, prep the area for seeding. Follow the steps for overseeding that are listed up above.

It’s Work, But It’s Fulfilling

It’s important to note that having a natural weed-free lawn will take work. It’s a lot like farming. Certain areas of your lawn will fare better than other parts for a while. It will take time. Just like farming though, there will be a huge sense of accomplishment with seeing the fruits of your labor with a naturally weed-free lawn. You’ll also feel a sense of comfort knowing you’re keeping your family safe from pesticides while enjoying a beautifully naturally cared for lawn.