[mcdude]

From the Concord Monitor

Healthy Communities Project and the Bow Drinking Water Protection Committee have offered up a handy calendar for keeping a natural lawn, without all those junky pesticides. Before you get started, make sure to get your soil tested to identify a baseline measurement for pH and key nutrients. Contact the UNH Cooperative Extension office or a garden supply center for a soil test kit.
The following is a general time frame (subject to change based on weather conditions) for upkeep:
Mid-April: Rake off winter debris from your lawn. When forsythia and daffodils are in bloom, apply corn gluten meal, a natural herbicide (see hort.iastate.edu/gluten for detailed information). Apply about a quarter-inch of water immediately after application, then let it dry for a few days.
May/June: Pull existing weeds as they appear, preferably before they go to seed to prevent newer weeds from germinating.
Memorial Day: The last weekend of May is the best time to over-seed your lawn. The following steps will maximize your efforts and increase your lawn's soil health and structure at the same time: pull any remaining weeds; aerate to open up your lawn's root system; over-seed and patch bare spots; top-dress with compost.
June, July, August: Follow a 1 inch per week watering rule (water in early morning or early evening to minimize evaporation) and be sure to incorporate rainfall. Keep pulling those weeds before they go to seed.
Late August: When the temperatures begin to cool, grass and weeds come out of their semi-dormant state and begin to grow more quickly. If you choose to apply corn gluten, now is the optimal time for your second application.
Labor Day: (Optional) If you have not already aerated and/or over-seeded in late May, now is a good time to do so.
Mid-October: Apply an organic fertilizer. Keep in mind that the most important nutrient to add as this point is potassium.
End-of-season tips: Compost the lawn by mowing it with the fallen leaves on it.
For more environmentally friendly lawn care and gardening tips, go to Greenguidenh.com.