The Grass Doctor

whats a great all natural lawn fertilizer?

my lawn has been destroyed by crane fly larvae and looks all patchy now and crappy, need to repair, looking for a really awesome all natural lawn fertilizer. any suggestions?

Public Comments

1. animal's diarrhea
2. bullshit....and i am not kidding:)..manure is the best natural fertilizer
3. What you need to do is sort out the problem rather than just hide it with fertilisers. The cranefly is very specific in the time of year it lays eggs in the lawn and when the larvae become very active. I presume you live near open grassland. Reduce the cranefly problem then start to feed the lawn. Garden centres might not have suitable chemical so try agricultural outlets. Kevin
4. miracle grow
5. kittencatpoopies.
6. If you are, or know a heavy coffee drinker who uses proper coffee over instant coffee, that can be used as a fertiliser, other then that there is manure, but that can be a bit of a putrid option, there is also all natural compost. You are best off going to your nearest garden centre and asking them, since those who tend to the plants usually know some good secrets
7. One of the best things you can do for your lawn is give it a top dressing of compost. Purchase some bags of very good quality finely textured compost. Spread them out all over the lawn so the compost is no more than a half inch thick. Then take a big leaf rake and rake it all in so the compost works its way down to the soil surface. Water as usual. You can repeat this every month or two over the summer to rehabilitate this lawn naturally. You can also apply composted steer manure instead of the compost one time to give it a bit more nitrogen. Spread and rake in the same way but don't plan any parties right away as it may be somewhat aromatic for a day or two. You can reseed at the proper time for your region the same day you do a compost application so it provides the perfect coverage.
8. Be careful about manure in contains lots of salt and acid that can discolor your lawn along with killing it. a little fresh dirt on top of the lawn can go a long way it the most Natural fertilizer.
9. The best fertilizer for a lawn is not considered "natural" even if it is made up of basic elements of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. That fertilizer is a slow release fertilizer such as Scotts or a similar product. These slow release products are best because they release the fertilizer in a slow manner and do not contribute as much to run off contamination as do the so called natural products. Items like compost sound good but so many times the compost is not completely "done" and the result is the addition of weed seeds to the lawn.
10. Crane Fly, at least in Texas, are of little concern. They feed on decaying material, not live grass. Grass roots do not have a clue as to where nitrogen comes from. It can be a cow patty or commercial fertilizer, all they want is food. Organic products have a very low nitrogen content, require a longer time to work, and will not yield the same results as synthetic products. Most customers, with conditions like yours, want immediate results, something organic fertilizers can not deliver. Aerating the lawn will go a long way in improving root structure and turf density. Fertilizing, mowing & watering correctly will correct most problems in any lawn. The results are not overnight, just like the grass does not grow all year. My personal suggestion is visit your local garden center, get the pros & cons on both products, then make your decision based on how much effort you are really willing to put into the project. Now go drink a beer and relax.