The Grass Doctor

Why is everyone burning their lawns?

I know that controlled burning is good every three years or so for prairie grass restorations, but this spring everyone has been burning their lawns. Several people who live by me, a golf course in the area, and een a local municipality burned its ditch frontage just today on a state highway. Is this supposed to help control weeds? Won't it just kill off what is there, and the deep rooted perennial weeds will come back more quickly than the desireable grasses? If this is effective, can I do this in my backyard, or do I need to have a licensed professional do it for me?

Public Comments

1. Burning is a good tool only if the land has been mismanaged and has a buildup of oxidized organic matter - thatch. The impressive green color comes from the fact that emerging grass can be seen more easily. Burning on a regular basis will do more damage than good by oxidizing the carbon and other nutrients and allowing them to drift away in the air.
2. Almost all weeds are annuals. That is the come back from seed year to year. If your grass is still dormant and brown it will not hurt the roots underground if you burn off the top. It will also kill the weeds and provide nitrogen to the ground. You might want to check on the local requirements. You might need to get a burn permit. As long as you have a hose ready and available I don't think you would need a licensed professional.
3. It burns off the dead weeds and helps the growth of new grass, makes room for new growth. and all depends on your township laws for burning.....
4. Supposedly the pot ash in the ash will make the grass come back greener and thicker because grass is resilient.