04/04/2024 - Lawn Care, Organic Gardening

Crabgrass is a common weed that can quickly take over your lawn if left unchecked. In New England, where the climate is conducive to crabgrass growth, it's essential to use effective control methods. Fortunately, there are several natural ways to manage this pesky weed without resorting to chemical herbicides.

1. Maintain a healthy, thick lawn The best defense against crabgrass is a dense, healthy lawn. Mow your grass at the proper height (about 3 inches) to encourage deeper roots and shade the soil, making it harder for crabgrass seeds to germinate. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade at a time to prevent stress on your lawn.

2. Overseed and fertilize Overseed your lawn in the fall with a grass seed mix appropriate for New England, such as a blend of perennial ryegrass, fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass. This will help fill in bare spots and crowd out crabgrass. Apply a natural, slow-release fertilizer in the fall and spring to promote strong grass growth.

3. Use corn gluten meal Corn gluten meal is a natural pre-emergent herbicide that prevents crabgrass seeds from germinating. Apply it in the early spring before crabgrass seeds start to sprout. Keep in mind that corn gluten meal will also prevent other grass seeds from germinating, so avoid using it if you plan to overseed. Like most natural herbicides and pesticides, corn gluten meal works slowly and is a long-term treatment.

4. Hand-pull young crabgrass If you spot young crabgrass plants in your lawn, remove them by hand before they have a chance to set seed. Make sure to pull out the entire plant, including the roots, to prevent regrowth.

5. Apply natural herbicides For larger crabgrass infestations, consider using natural herbicides like vinegar or boiling water. Be cautious when applying these treatments, as they can also harm desirable plants. Spot-treat the crabgrass and avoid spraying nearby grass or ornamental plants.

6. Improve soil health Crabgrass thrives in compacted, poorly draining soils. Improve your lawn's soil health by aerating it annually and adding organic matter, such as compost or leaf mulch. This will help your grass grow stronger and more resilient against weeds.

7. Plant a tree Crabgrass needs full sun to grow. Planting trees can create a more shady environment and eliminate this weed's chance of growing. Trees provide numerous other benefits as well.

By implementing these natural crabgrass control methods and maintaining a consistent lawn care routine, you can keep your New England lawn looking its best without relying on chemical herbicides. Remember, a healthy, well-maintained lawn is the most effective way to prevent crabgrass and other weeds from taking over.

04/01/2024 - Lawn Care, Organic Gardening

Hairy Bittercress

We have seen a lot of these weeds in our Rhode Island gardens and lawns this spring.

Cardamine hirsuta, also known as hairy bittercress, is a small, annual or biennial weed native to Europe and Asia, but it has spread to many other parts of the world, including North America. It is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Key characteristics include:

Leaves: Hairy bittercress has a basal rosette of pinnately compound leaves with rounded leaflets. The leaves are alternate on the stem and have a slightly hairy appearance. Stems: The weed has slender, erect stems that grow up to 20 cm tall. The stems are usually hairless and may be branched. Flowers: Small, white, four-petaled flowers develop in clusters at the top of the stems. Each flower is about 3-5 mm in diameter. Fruit: The plant produces slender, elongated seed pods called siliques, which are about 2-3 cm long. When mature, these pods split open explosively, dispersing the seeds over a wide area. Seeds: The seeds are small, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown in color. Growth habit: Hairy bittercress is a cool-season weed that germinates in the fall or early spring, flowers in the spring, and sets seed before dying off in the summer heat.

This weed is commonly found in moist, disturbed soils in gardens, lawns, and along paths or sidewalks. It can be a nuisance due to its rapid growth and prolific seed production, which allows it to spread quickly and outcompete desirable plants.

Like many weeds hairy bittercress has some value.

Hairy bittercress is edible and is sometimes considered a wild edible green. The leaves, stems, and flowers have a peppery, mustard-like flavor similar to watercress, which is a close relative. The plant is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as minerals like potassium and calcium.

Here are some ways to use hairy bittercress in cooking:

Salads: The young leaves and stems can be added to salads for a peppery flavor. Pesto: Blend the leaves with garlic, nuts, cheese, and olive oil to make a flavorful pesto. Soups: Add the leaves to soups or stews for a peppery kick. Sandwiches: Use the leaves as a garnish or green in sandwiches. Stir-fries: Toss the leaves and stems into stir-fries for added flavor and nutrients.

However, it is essential to keep the following precautions in mind:

Proper identification: Ensure that you have correctly identified the plant as hairy bittercress before consuming it, as some wild plants may be toxic. Pesticides: Avoid eating hairy bittercress from areas that may have been treated with herbicides or pesticides. Moderation: While edible, consume hairy bittercress in moderation, as eating large quantities of any wild plant may cause digestive issues for some people. Allergies: If you have allergies to other members of the mustard family, such as broccoli or cabbage, you may also be sensitive to hairy bittercress.

Natural Control Methods

Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch, such as bark chips or straw, around desired plants. This will suppress weed growth and prevent bittercress seeds from reaching the soil and germinating. Hand weeding: Regularly pull out hairy bittercress plants by hand, ensuring that you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. This is most effective when the plants are small and before they set seed. Proper lawn maintenance: Mow your lawn regularly and at the proper height to prevent bittercress from establishing and spreading. A dense, healthy lawn will also outcompete weeds. Soil solarization: Cover the affected area with a clear plastic sheet during the hottest part of the summer, which will heat the soil and kill weed seeds. Planting ground covers: Use dense ground covers in garden beds to shade the soil and prevent bittercress from growing. Corn gluten meal: This natural pre-emergent herbicide can be applied to lawns and gardens to prevent bittercress seeds from germinating.

Remember, persistence is key when controlling hairy bittercress, as it produces numerous seeds that can remain viable in the soil for several years.

Give Atlantic a call to help control this weed in your landscape.

08/30/2019 - Aerate, Aerating, Dethatch, Dethatching, Fall Treatments, Fertilizer, Landscaping, Lawn Care, Maintenance, Natural, Natural Lawn Care, Organic, Overseed, Overseeding, Slice Seeding, Topdress, Topdressing, Winterizer

Ahh, summer... a sweet few months dedicated to playing fetch with the dog after work, kids playing in the yard and weekend cookouts. During these months, New Englanders typically find themselves spending more time outside, enjoying their green spaces rather than staying indoors. As we begin to gear up for cold weather and the inevitable scent of pumpkin spice, it's important to remember to prep our lawns for next year's round of fun in the sun. Here's a list of services that may help to keep your lawn healthy:

Aerating

Aeration is the process of puncturing the ground and pulling up plugs of soil, creating space so grass roots can receive enough air, water and nutrients to grow deep and produce a full, healthy grass. Compacted areas in your lawn can be caused by lawn mowers, heavy equipment or high levels of foot traffic. It is best to aerate a lawn during the cooler months, after mowing and summer activities have stopped and is usually recommended to supplement an aeration with a fall fertilizer to create a healthier lawn and soil.

Dethatching

Thatch is the spongy layer of dead plant matter between the green grass and soil surface. It can be caused by over watering, over fertilizing or from grass clippings. When water and fertilizer have an environment to stay saturated within, it becomes an ideal place for fungi and other lawn diseases to exist and spread. Dethatching is done to comb out any dead organic matter, allowing the live grass to be reinvigorated and is typically paired with overseeding to fill in any thin spots in the lawn. This can be especially beneficial if grass clippings are not bagged on a regular basis throughout the summer season.

Overseeding and Topdressing

Overseeding is a quick and easy way to thicken your lawn. Spreading grass seed over existing lawn space can help fill in any gaps and provide a fuller, improved lawn color. Topdressing is done by adding a light layer of loam/compost (about 1/4" depth) to a lawn, then additional grass seed. If the lawn has any pits, dips or patchy areas then topdressing might be the solution for you. We typically recommend dethatching be done before topdressing to ensure any dead material has been removed.

Fall Fertilizer/Winterizer

Feeding your lawn before it goes dormant is a good way to help the grass recuperate from the hot, dry summer and helps promote spring 'greening'. Fall Winterizers are typically high in Potassium, which helps strengthen plants against the stress of the cold. We encourage using organic fertilizers, so the overall soil quality is improved.

Need Help?

It's never too late to start improving your lawn! Give us a call to schedule a free consultation and a free estimate!

04/14/2016 - Lawn Care, News, Services

There are a few key factors to developing a pesticide free, natural lawn and landscape.

Design

We look at your whole yard and current use of the lawn to come up with low maintenance, natural solutions. Sometimes the best approach is to consider lawn alternatives in those hard to grow locations. Sunny areas can host wonderful meadows while shady spots make great woodlands. To create a healthy pesticide free lawn we recommend a generous amount of good topsoil.

Soil

Our topsoil is mixed with compost to increase it's water holding capacity, nutrient and microbe counts. A strong lawn requires a minimum of 6 inches of topsoil, the more the better. We fertilize our lawns spring and fall with an organic lawn fertilizer which also helps feed the soil. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, the organic approach lasts much longer, requiring fewer applications. Organic fertilizers improve soil quality adding a wide range of nutrients. They have lower dosages of nitrogen with less risk of burning your lawn. Soil tests are available for understanding a soils PH and nutrient deficiencies.

Maintenance

We aerate and slice seed many of our properties to improve the thickness of the lawn. Watering is essential for new seedlings to establish. (we provide a watering service for new lawn and plant installations) Proper mowing practices, cutting at a higher height, helps choke out many weeds. A thick healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds. For other lawn pests like grubs, we recommend monitoring on an annual basis and treating the lawn when necessary. Adding a tree to your yard can create shade and eliminate sun loving crab-grass.

Call us today for a free lawn and landscape consultation.

We provide lawn care service in Jamestown, North Kingstown, Narragansett, East Greenwich, Warwick, Newport, Middletown and Porstmouth.