It is currently Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:31 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:21 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:59 am
Posts: 6
Hello all, love this site.
I want to change to organic for my lawn needs. I have St. Augustine grass. I am unable to find corn gluten meal anywhere in my city, I am able to get bulk regular cornmeal though. I ordered vinegar and orange oil online and the shipping charges makes ordering corn gluten meal cost prohibitive.

I do have a crabgrass problem and want to know what you think if I use regular cornmeal monthly as a fertilizer and then use a synthetic pre-emergence twice a year to keep down the weeds. Will this be defeating the whole purpose?

Also, when you say monthly on the cornmeal, is that monthly only during the growing season?

Thanks so much for your help.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:17 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 1:52 pm
Posts: 2017
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
You can order it online as well. Where do you live? Here's info about corn gluten meal:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garde ... ion/id/17/

_________________
Sandi
Texas Certified Nursery Professional
Texas Master Naturalist
Organic gardener
Tree-Hugger
Native Texan


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:19 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:59 am
Posts: 6
I live in Arkansas, 50+ miles southwest of Little Rock.

It cost me over $13 to have shipped 1 gal. vinegar and orange oil so I would hate to imagine the cost for shipping 40 or 50 lb. bags of corn gluten meal when I have 7,000 sq. ft. of lawn area.

Would using chemical pre-emergence alter the organic benefits of using cornmeal monthly?

Appreciate your help.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:20 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:59 am
Posts: 6
I live in Arkansas, 50+ miles southwest of Little Rock.

It cost me over $13 to have shipped 1 gal. vinegar and orange oil so I would hate to imagine the cost for shipping 40 or 50 lb. bags of corn gluten meal when I have 7,000 sq. ft. of lawn area.

Would using chemical pre-emergence alter the organic benefits of using cornmeal monthly?

Appreciate your help.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:53 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 1:52 pm
Posts: 2017
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
the use of any chemical product is defintitely discouraged. Check with all your local nurseries and feed stores.

_________________
Sandi
Texas Certified Nursery Professional
Texas Master Naturalist
Organic gardener
Tree-Hugger
Native Texan


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:02 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:59 am
Posts: 6
Thanks for responding.
We have two feed stores in my area and neither one carries corn gluten meal and none of the nurseries carry it.

So, it looks as though I have two choices:

1) Use regular cornmeal as a fertilizer and use a chemical preemergence or

2) Use chemical fertilizer and chemical preemergence.

Which is the better choice?

Thanks


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:05 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed May 12, 2010 5:12 pm
Posts: 11
I wouldnt use any pre emergent. The thing is with organics, from what i understand and have experienced so far, is that as your turf thickens and soil health increases, the turf will naturally choke out the weeds. I have not used any weed killers this year and have less than ANY of my neighbors. if something pops up I just pull it out when I see it.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:32 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:59 am
Posts: 6
Thanks NorthTexas for the reply.
I will just use cornmeal and see how it works without the preemergence. My grass is sparce in spots so just hope that it will thicken up so that the weeks won't have a chance.
Thanks


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:51 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed May 12, 2010 5:12 pm
Posts: 11
It will with time and consistency on your part. If you have bermuda you can feed it every month in the growing season.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:51 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
Here is how you prevent crabgrass from getting into your St Augustine lawn:
Water deeply and infrequently, mulch mow weekly at your mower's highest setting, and fertilize regularly. You should be able to water deeply enough to only water once a week without the grass drying up. I water for at least an hour depending on the local heat, wind, and humidity. Watering more than once a week keeps the soil moist at the surface. Crabgrass seed needs continual moisture to sprout. By watering only once a week the soil surface dries out and the crabgrass cannot sprout. Of course Mother Nature has Her own way of watering. Keep the grass mowed at the highest setting is the second way to prevent crabgrass. Crabgrass seedlings need direct sunlight to take root. By keeping the grass tall the crabgrass has much less chance of taking root. Regular fertilizer will help make the grass more dense, too.

This approach does not do anything to kill existing crabgrass, but if you can make it through the end of this season, you can work on making the grass denser so next year you should not have weeds.

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:28 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:59 am
Posts: 6
Thanks David for your response.
I'm going to use cornmeal as fertilizer to thicken up my SA and I am mowing at the highest setting. I can't wait to have a crabgrass free lawn.
Thanks so much.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by eWeblife