Organic Lawn Care
This is a handout that accompanies a presentation on Organic Lawn Care given by
Environmental Research Foundation's Associate Director, Maria B. Pellerano. If you have questions about this handout or the presentation, please contact Maria at erf@rachel.org
. This handout is available with live links at http://www.rachel.org/library/getfile.cfm?ID=413 .
A Quick Review of Common Cool Season Grasses for New Jersey
Kentucky Bluegrass
Has great texture, density, color.
Tolerates heavy traffic.
Can require higher than average inputs of water, nitrogen, etc.
Has a rhizome structure, so does not tolerate drought well.
Somewhat slow to establish from seed.
Has a medium to high tendency to produce thatch.
Fine Fescues – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs688.pdf
Low maintenance – require 40-50% less nitrogen than Kentucky Bluegrass.
Tolerate shady conditions.
Endophytic (beneficial fungus) varieties that resist pests are available.
Fine grass blades.
Hard Fescues – a variety of Fine Fescues see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs688.pdf
One of the best choices for low maintenance lawns in N.J.
Slow growing, so requires less mowing.
Require less fertilizers.
Need less water.
Excellent pest & disease resistance.
Medium tendency to produce thatch.
Turf-Type Tall Fescues -- http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs990.pdf
Drought resistant, deep roots.
Endophytic varieties resist pests.
Fine leaf blade.
Ability to tolerate heavy traffic.
Newer varieties are useful for low maintenance turfgrass areas.
Low tendency to produce thatch.
Perennial Ryegrass – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs989.pdf
Rapid establishment.
Great for over-seeding.
May require greater than average mowing.
Susceptible to Red Thread disease.
Not drought tolerant.
Grow poorly in wet areas.
Low tendency to produce thatch.

Good Websites on Turfgrass and Lawns
For more information on selecting seed see "Turfgrass Seed Selection for Home Lawns" http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs684.pdf
.
The place to learn about the latest in turfgrass research is the National Turfgrass Evaluation
Program at http://www.ntep.org
.
A place to buy high quality seed is http://seedsuperstore.com/ .
Other useful fact sheets on lawns and grasses can be found on the If Plants Could Talk website
(sponsored by Rutgers Cooperative Extension) at http://www.ifplantscouldtalk.rutgers.edu/factsheets/?TopicShrt=LawnCare and at the Rutgers
Cooperative Extension website at http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/subcategory.asp?cat=5&sub=39 .
What to Do With Your Grass During a Drought
If water restrictions are in place you should not water your lawn.
Allow turfgrass to go into dormancy.
•
Dormancy will protect grass from damage.
• Infrequent, inadequate watering will drain stored resources from dormant turfgrass.
Stay off lawn to prevent damage.
Do not use fertilizers during a drought or on heat-stressed turfgrass.
What Weeds Tell Us
Problem Appearance/Symptoms Cause Solution dandelion familiar perennial plant with yellow flowers compacted soil and thin turf cover aerate soil; hand pull at least 80%; overseed with ryegrasses crabgrass low-growing annual with shallow roots and short, pointed, hairy leaves nutrient-deficient soil, short mowing and soil compaction raise mowing height; hand pull and apply organic fertilizers common plantain chinch bug low-growing perennial with wide oval leaves thin turf cover and low nutrients in soil handpull; apply organic fertilizers and overseed white grub dollar spot summer patch brown or yellow patches, particularly near driveways and sidewalks stressed or weakened grasses caused by soil compaction and shallow watering spongy dead patches that lift easily; common in spring and again in late-summer to earlyfall compacted soil, dry sunny lawns with short, weak roots, chemical fertilizer use and short weak roots water deeply once a week; apply diatomaceous earth; dethatch and apply soap and water every 10 - 14 days dethatch; water deeply; apply organic fertilizer; use soap and water or parasitic nematodes for major infestations; over- seed with ryegrass and fescues small pale circles dead patches then brown rings; during humid summers dry soil and nitrogen deficiencies high nitrogen and low mowing add organic material; mow infected tips and discard clippings mow higher and apply organic fertilizer
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Alternative Pest Control
"IPM approach" means an integrated pest management approach which employs a hierarchy of monitoring, cultural, biological (including natural enemies), and chemical controls.
Annual Bluegrass Weevil (IPM approach) – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs1016.pdf
Chinch Bugs – see http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/pesticide_chinch.pdf
Dandelions – see http://www.pesticide.org/dandelions.pdf
Diseases of Landscape Turf – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs814.pdf
Grubs – see http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/pesticide_grubs.pdf
Hairy Chinch Bug (IPM approach) – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs1008.pdf
Red Thread and Pink Patch Disease (IPM approach) – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs798.pdf
Sod Webworms (IPM approach) – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs1007.pdf
Weeds – see http://www.pesticide.org/weeds.pdf
White Grubs (IPM approach) – see http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/fs1009.pdf
Other Useful Websites
Bio-Integral Resource Center (see http://www.birc.org/ ) sells a number of publications on alternatives to pesticides; see http://www.keyed.com/birc/pubrep.htm
for a list of publications.
Ecological Landscaping Association, see http://www.ela-ecolandscapingassn.org/ .
National Organic Program, United States Department of Agriculture, see http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm
.
Northeast Organic Farming Association, Connecticut and Massachusetts Chapters Organic Land
Care Program, see http://www.organiclandcare.net/index.php
.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, have some of the best fact sheets on pesticides and alternatives to them, see http://www.pesticide.org/factsheets.html
. The following may be of particular interest:
• Taking Care of Your Lawn Without Using Pesticides, see http://www.pesticide.org/lawns.pdf
• Restoring A Lawn Without Chemicals, see http://www.pesticide.org/RestLawn.pdf
Organic Landscape Alliance, see http://www.organiclandscape.org/factsheets.htm
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What Some Governments are Doing About Lawn Care
Arcata, California banned use of pesticides on city property, see http://www.arcatacityhall.org/municode/ord1300.html
.
North Central Texas' Texas SmartScape website, see http://www.txsmartscape.com/ .
Seattle, Washington's Natural Lawn Care website, see http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Yard/Natural_Lawn_&_Garden_Care/Natural_Lawn_Care/i ndex.asp
.
Toronto, Canada's Pesticide Information Portal, including information on its Pesticide By-Laws
(no cosmetic use of pesticides on public or private property), see http://www.toronto.ca/pesticides/index.htm
.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) -- Morris County
P.O. Box 900 - Court House
Morristown, NJ 07963-0900
Street Address: County Building 550, West Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ
Agriculture and Resource Management
Phone: 973-285-8300
Fax: (973) 605-8195
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) – Sussex County
129 Morris Turnpike
Newton, NJ 07860
Agriculture and Resource Management
Phone: (973) 948-3040
Fax: (973) 948-5582
Website: http://sussex.rce.rutgers.edu/
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