Lawn fertilizer and weed control

[khable]

Hi all,

Question for you.....

My girls will be going to their coop shortly. (they are three weeks old now)

The plan is that they will stay in an enclosed area... fenced in at all times. But maybe I will have them come out once in a blue moon when I am gardening... Not sure how this will work yet as I am new to chickens. Do they follow you??

Anyways... We are going to be putting Lawn fertilizer with weed control down on the grass soon. I think we will use the Scotts brand.

How long after application would it be ok for the girls to be on the grass??

We want to be safe... "IF" we do decide to let them out to wander around with us....

Thanks!!

Kim

Mom to 6 Buff Orpington preteens!

 

[bantymum]

I personally wouldnt recommend using anything unorganic if you have chickens.
A really good grass fertiliser is chook poo tea which you place chicken droppings into a large bin and fill up with water then get bucket loads and toss it all over the grass, keep topping up with water and droppings. Its really very good for grass and garden, then with the weeds you can pick them out or use a very safe weed killer (if there is one).

 

[cookinmom]

Hi Kim,
It really would be better if you went with something organic, not only for the chickens' sake, but also for the local bird population. The fewer toxic chemicals spread around, the better for all.

One of my friends lived in a neighborhood that had ducks, and they died from some of the people using weed & feed products.l I don't know if they ate it, or if it ran off into the pond.

 

[SeaChick]

Hi Khable... I just posted a long message about this ( a bit of a rant, sorry... the thread is here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6023&p=2) but the upshot of it is: why not use a non-toxic weed-and-feed instead? There are many companies that make a corn gluten product. Even our Home Depot sells it!!!! It's totally non-toxic to pets and people, fertilizes and is a pre-emergent weed-killer (meaning it stops germination. So don't use it with new grass seed and it works best on weeds in spring and fall before crabgrass, etc germinates.) If you can't find it locally, try here: http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=2836
Our local garden stores also sell the CockadoodleDoo brand. There is also a brand called perfectly Natural. If you call around asking for "corn gluten natural lawn fertilizer" you should be able to find some. I can vouch that it makes a gorgeous, lush green lawn. And not bad chemicals for the birds or for you to track inside!!! Why WOULDN'T you use it???

Stacey

 

[SeaChick]

Apparently Blue Seal also sells a Corn Gluten Lawn Care product called "Safe N Simple", if you have a BS feed store nearby. Here's a good list:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lawns-725/Corn-Gluten-Meal.htm

it's good stuff.

Stacey

 

[bantymum]

Wonderful advice Seachick

 

[Oaknim]

Thanks so much, SeaChick - I've been arguing with DH for MONTHS that we could find a natural "Weed 'N Feed" and he (and his idiot friends) are chemical crazy when it comes to bugs and grass. His friend is chemical crazy when it comes to anything, but that's a tirade for another day. I can't wait to show him this thread and stomp around going, "HA!"

~ Oaknim

 

[khable]

Thanks Sea Chick and all...

I wasn't aware of Corn Gluten products before... I will definately check them out!!

I have been uneasy about using the weed control stuff ... but this lawn needs some serious help.

Glad to see that there are some natural products!

Thanks again!!!

Kim

 

[mom'sfolly]

The corn gluten works great on brown patch too, a fungal infection. The healthier a lawn is the more likely it is to fight off weeds on its own. This makes an organic weed n feed a better choice. Top dressing a lawn with compost of some kind also eliminates the need for fertilizer, and helps the lawn. Check out a book called The Chemical Free Lawn. My totally crazy lawn nazi neighbor even borrowed my copied and used it....after he had killed a mature oak tree with his scott ween-n-feed.

Karen