Go Green and Make your Lawn more Enjoyable 
Taking a "greener" approach to lawn care this summer can make your lawn naturally beautiful and safer, more enjoyable for you, your kids and pets.
The first step to a "greener" lawn is to eliminate the "weed and feed". Unless your lawn is 75% weeds you do not need to put weed killer on the whole thing. Just spot treat areas with heavy infestations. A few weeds here and there is not going to hurt anything.
Use an organic or organic-based fertilizer to provide nutrients. Organic products are naturally slow release and stimulate the life in the soil which also helps to keep plants healthy. Healthy soils grow healthy plants without all the extra chemicals and water. When using organic or organic-based fertilizers you do not need a 6 step program. Depending on the condition of the soil and your desired results, one to four applications should be plenty.
Improve soil conditions by topdressing the lawn with a good quality compost or spraying on a compost tea or similar product. Grieder Garden Center carries Kid Conscious Lawn Care's Soil Life, a liquid  compost extract with living microorgniasms that will help to bring your soil back to life.
Aerate the lawn as often as possible, at least once every year, to help reduce compaction and allow air and water to get to the roots. Roots of all plants need oxygen!
Apply Calcium Sulfate (gypsum) this spring to help loosen heavy clay soil and provide a natural crabgrass preventer.
Mow the lawn at 3 inches high during the growing season. This height will shade out the weeds and keep soil from drying out. The taller the grass, the deeper the roots.
Leave the grass clippings on the lawn to replenish the nutrients and organic matter in the soil.
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