Organic lawn treatments work best when used as part of a complete organic lawn care program. If you want to use an organic approach next year, fall is the best time to start. Here are some products to consider:

Organica Lawn Food is a corn gluten product that also provides microbes to build soil health. It can be applied now. Reapply in the spring, as their program suggests.

Milorganite is an organic fertilizer that releases nitrogen and other micro-nutrients to feed the soil over a 12 week period. It also supports the microbe activity of the soil. It's safe and works well over time.

Espoma Organic Lawn Food is another safe product that can be used anytime, including now for fall fertilizing.

Whatever you do will contribute to a healthy, green lawn in the spring. Don't forget - fall is the beginning of the season for lawn care!

Last time we talked about some of the basic techniques of lawn care that govern fall as the beginning of the lawn care season. Here's more:

The key to a great lawn is healthy soil, and the key to healthy soil is knowing what to do. It all starts with soil testing. If the pH of your soil is right (about 6.5), the grass will flourish and the weeds can be crowded out. Soil testing should be done in fall so that you know how to treat your lawn for proper pH before the spring dandelion season comes 'round again.

Building soil is a constant process best started in the fall, so that you can take advantage of the winter to help you out. Stick a shovel straight down into your lawn to see if you have at least 4" of topsoil. Does the shovel go in easily? If not, or if your "soil" feels like cement udder the shovel, you've some soil building work to do. Fall is the best time to do it.

• Start now by mulching in your grass clippings to return nitrogen to the lawn.
• Later this fall, when the mowing season draws to a close, spread a half-inch of compost over the entire lawn and give it the winter to work in. This technique will feed the soil and encourage the earthworms to be active all winter long.
• If you wish to fertilize instead, consider an organic product, and, no matter what product you choose, cut the application suggested by 30%.

Dethatching? Some lawns need dethatching to let more water and air into the soil. Thatch is a mat of surface roots that can build up and block water and air from getting into the soil below. If your soil is thin, the problem compounds. If your lawn has thatch build-up, fall is the time for dethatching.

Is lawn repair required? If you have a patch of lawn that is in very poor condition, you can overseed or re-sod for a quick fix. Either of these techniques is best done in the fall. We talked about overseeding in our last issue. Re-sodding provides new turf quickly and with less fuss and works best when you have a good base of topsoil underneath. We have all kinds of quality sod products.

Spring blooming perennials are best divided in the early fall. Here are some tips to lift and divide your perennials successfully this year.

Dig wide and deep: When digging up a perennial for dividing, dig at least as wide as the crown of the plant. Put your spade about 8-12 inches into the ground before you try to loosen the root ball. Gently loosen the plant and remove from the ground with your hand or the shovel underneath the root ball. Never grab the plant by the top.

Loosen the dirt and divide with care: Some perennials have soft or fine root balls and can be divided by hand. Others will be hard balls with firm or even tough roots. These should be cut apart with the sharp, flat end of a spade.

Keep 'em cool: It's best to work in cool even cloudy weather. If you need to store the perennials before replanting, keep the roots moist (not soaking wet) and in cool shaded conditions. Soak the roots to ensure they are wet before replanting.