Wake up your lawn for spring.

I get a lot of emails asking about spring wake up the lawn. Here is some simple information to help you wake your lawn.

Assuming your grass is fairly green and somewhat healthy already, you can add a light dose of iron and Organic as a way of achieving a richer, deeper blue-green color. This is will surely set your lawn apart in the neighborhood. In fact, it is iron that makes Kentucky Blue Grass, “blue.”

However, iron can also be used to correct soil deficiencies and is considered a viable organic alternative to heavy synthetic nitrogen. (Nitrogen gives the lawn a greening but also pushes growth) If your turf grass looks dull yellow, chances are a good dose of iron will help restore it.

Poor soil is a common cause of failure to grow vigorous, attractive lawns, trees and shrubs. Topsoil’s vary greatly from one location to another. Topsoil’s ability to support plant growth can differ from block to block, from farm to farm and from the bottom to the top of a slope.

Organic matter is very important to successful plant growth. In general, Midwest soils have about 2.5 to 3 percent organic matter. Soils with at least 2.5 to 3 percent organic matter are preferable for growing lawns. Flowers, gardens and landscapes will do well in soils with 4 to 6 percent organic matter.

The soil is the foundation of plant growth. The concept of organics has to do with enriching the soil and increasing soil flora. In nature, nutrients enter the soil as organic matter is broken down by soil microorganisms.. Therefore, the philosophy behind the use of organics in lawn care is simple. In feeding the soil, you feed the soil microorganisms, which in turn, feeds the plants.

Healthy soil is home to billions of microorganisms that feed on organic matter in the soil. Organic matter could be leaves, grass clippings, manure, buried wood, shed grass roots, or almost any biodegradable material that enters the soil. As the microbes feed on the O/M, they release nutrients in a form that plants can take up through the roots. Nitrogen is one of the elements released and the element consumed by grasses in the greatest amount. For this reason, lawn fertility programs, whether they are organic or inorganic, are based on the nitrogen needs of the grass.

In addition to incorporation into the soil, applying organic matter as mulch is beneficial for many flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs. Top-dressing of lawns may be done with good topsoil or topsoil–organic material combinations to smooth out irregular areas in the lawn or help decay thatch. Adding a few inches of topsoil does not generally improve the texture or performance of heavy clay and poorly drained soils unless it is done in combination with core aeration.

What is a good organic and iron additive for the lawn.

My favorite way of adding organic matter and Iron is Milorganite, which is a 100% organic slow release source of chelated iron. In addition, Milorganite contains slow release nitrogen that works alongside the iron. I always Put it down with Pelletized Lime to sweeten the soil and make the  nutreants more available to the lawn. Don’t get me wrong I still use a synthetic the rest of the year.

The straight poop on Milorganite Organic Lawn and Landscape Fertilizer… I use it on my own lawn, and customer lawns and and it has always delivered quality, safe results. The good folks at Milorganite have not paid me to write about this. I do it to help you!

Milorganite is an organic nitrogen fertilizer produced by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Popularized in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, it consists of processed sludge from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Jones Island Waste Water Treatment Plant. It’s name comes from the combination of “Milwaukee,” “organic” and “nitrogen.”
Milorganite contains microbes that have digested nutrients from the sewage stream along with added iron, used to strip phosphorus from the waste water flowing into Lake Michigan.
That’s right friends, this 100% organic fertilizer product is processed poop! But man does it offer a lot of benefits:

Milorganite benefits:

1. Adds natural nitrogen to your lawn slowly: Milorganite contains 6% nitrogen in natural, biosolid form. This means nitrogen is released slowly and will not burn the lawn or ruin the soil like synthetic nitrogen fertilizers can. Milorganite is “goof proof,” meaning you can’t burn your lawn even if you put down too much.
2. Contains micronutrient iron: Milorganite also contains significant amount of iron. For those who are not aware, iron is what makes Kentucky Blue Grass “blue.” However, adding iron to lawns using synthetic products adds a major risk of concrete staining. Milorganite’s slow-released iron will not stain your concrete or masonry work.
3. Acts as a Deer Repellant: It’s not been scientifically proven, but many sources sware that milorganite placed around trees and shrubs will keep deer away. In addition, your plants will benefit from the nutrients.
   Milorganite is organic: if you are looking to use products in your lawn and landscape that are more environmentally friendly, then Milorganite is a good choice. It won’t burn your lawn or leach into the groundwater like overly-applied synthetics can.

Some drawbacks to Milorganite

1. You have to put down a lot of it: Some people are put off by the large amounts of Milorganite that you must put on your lawn to get results. It is recommended in Spring time to put down 17 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn area. This is compared to synthetic fertilizers where the recommended amount is less than 1 pound per 1,000 square feet. Remember, organics are not as concentrated as synthetic fertilizers.
2. There is a smell to it: Some people are really put off by the smell of Milorganite (deer too apparently) as it is made from processed sewage. In my personal opinion, the smell is not any worse than any other garden smell and it’s gone in a couple days.
3. Milorganite does not break down in cool weather: Since it is organic, Milorganite requires heat to release nutrients into the soil so it does not work well in early Spring and late Fall.

What about the heavy metals?
I am no chemist, but some people over the years have warned that Milorganite releases high amounts of heavy metals such as zinc, copper and arsenic into the soil. I’ve combed their website and they claim that Milorganite metal levels are no more than any other fertilizer product on the market today. I believe them!

The best time to apply Milorganite to your lawn is late April as this is the time when temps are rising. If you decide to use Milorganite as your organic lawn fertilizer choice, you will probably only to need to apply it 3 times per year as it is a slow release product.
I recommend applications of 17 pounds per 1,000 square feet in April, June and September.

Final Note: Milorganite is also a great source of slow-release iron for your landscape perennials. If your woody ornamentals or soft perennials have yellowed leaves, milorganite will help restore an iron deficiency.