Stubby wrote:
rw wrote:
Has anyone had any experience with Cockadoodle DOO Organic Weed
Control.

Cockadoodle DOO Organic Weed Control
http://www.purebarnyard.com/cockadoodledoo/products.asp

We live in Masachusetts and are considering trying it on our lawns this
April. Clover has been our biggest problem, but we seem to have a
touch of everything. Also, any alternative suggestions would be great.

I'm in MA, too. Clover used to be desirable in lawns. But then
broad-leaf weed killers came along, clover went away and our values
changed to "grass-only". I apply liquid broad-leaf control very
selectively each year. This keeps it out of the environment in general
and off of our garden plants.


That's basicly the approach I take too. There are two extremes. One
is the folks that buy the 4 Step program concept and put chemicals down
whether they are needed or not. And too frequently it becomes a 7
step program, because they put down herbicide again over the whole lawn
and the first sight of a couple dandelions. Or insecticide because the
lawn looks bad, whether they have a real identified problem or not.

The other extreme is to try to do everything organicly. That's fine if
you can get it to work for you, are willing to pay the much higher cost
and incur the extra work. Using corn gluten is a good example. It
will work, but it takes a whole lot of it and it's expensive.
Eliminating weeds that do germinate or insects is much harder.

I put down a pre-emergent/fertilizer combo in Spring, (late April here
in NJ), then use a small tank sprayer to spot treat any weeds during
the rest of the season. In fall I apply fertilizer twice, early Sept,
then again about 5 weeks later. I only apply insecticide if I have a
specific problem. I think this is a reasonable approach that
minimizes the amount of chemicals, while achieving a balance.

If you have a lawn that is a real mess, my approach is to use whatever
chemicals it takes to get it right. After that, a good thick lawn
will need a lot less to keep it that way.





Cockadoodle Doo probably works but I believe it is less concentrated
than ordinary chemical fertilizers. Being "natural" does not make it
"good" (cocaine, arsenic, alcohol etc are natural).