Ah, August.
Summer’s days may be numbered, but it’s not too late to give your garden a late-season boost with some much-needed minerals. Your tomato, cucumber and zucchini plants will be especially grateful and will reward you with their plentiful bounty.
Your lawn, on the other hand, may be suffering thanks to a summer that has been hotter and drier than normal in many parts of the country.
If you are thinking about seeding a new lawn, or overseeding an existing lawn, the best time to do so is in late August and early to mid-September. Cooler temperatures and an increase in rainfall will make it easier for grass to root. Most weeds are done germinating, as well.
But the real secret to a lush, green and healthy lawn is to use all-natural rock dust to remineralize while you reseed.
By strengthening the soil, rock dust makes it easier for grass to take root. The larger the root-mass density of the grass, the less room there will be for invasive weeds like dandelions that look for any opportunity to jump in and take over.
In fact, rock dust is the secret weapon behind many golf courses that seek a sustainable, “green” solution to the perfect lawn.
We recommend applying 5 to 10 pounds of an all-natural , high-quality rock dust like Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster per 200 square feet of lawn (10×20). Apply using a lawn spreader or by hand. For best results, apply after aeration.
Here are a few more natural lawn care tips:
- Water less often, but more deeply. This allows grass roots to grow further down into the soil where they can develop a better stronghold.
- Don’t use your lawnmower’s lowest setting during prime growing season. Short blades are stressed blades. (You can lower your mower’s settings once temperatures start to cool down and the fall rains have begun. This gives them more of a chance to dry off, and to avoid the growth of fungi and other diseases.)
- Leave your grass clippings on the lawn. They add much-needed organic material.
- Next year, add an organic mulch in the late spring. This will help prepare your lawn for the stress of summer heat.
