Fight Crabgrass without Toxic Herbicides

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 © photo copyright 2008 Carrie Boyko
Baking Soda Kills Crabgrass

Crabgrass is a stubborn weed that often suffocates our grass and takes over what used to be our lawn. Until a few years ago, many lawncare organizations used a toxic chemical to kill this nasty stuff, but the authorities that be finally banned the product due to environmental safety issues.

Ironically, it turns out that long before the ban, many natural gardeners had discovered a safe alternative that I'll bet is in your kitchen pantry right now. Simple baking soda, sprinkled on the pesky stuff,  turns crab grass brown and kills it off. It works great for small areas of crabgrass, so try to catch them early, before they spread like wildfire and take over, killing your whole lawn. Once the area is looking pretty dead, dig it up (it comes out easily) and put in sod to replace the missing grass. If you don't replace it, you can be certain that the area will fill itself in with weeds, and quickly, so don't put this off.

After the ban, my local lawncare company's representative finally confessed to this alternative solution, leaving me feeling angry. I had asked for safer, chemical-free solutions for years, but it seems that they were told not to recommend this option because of the possibility of loss of business.


My new organic lawncare company, Jolly Green Planet, recommends this method. One tip I'd like to add: Don't apply on a windy day, and be careful not to get the baking soda on other plants. Good luck!


Related Reading:
Organic Crabgrass Killer
Green Lawn Care: A Tale of Two Families
Excited about Organic Lawn Care
Pesticides' Destructive Path



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