Corn Gluten Meal For Lawns

What Is Corn Gluten Meal

In the 1990s, Dr. Nick Christians at Iowa State University was doing some work on golf putting greens and stumbled upon the herbicidal qualities of a product called corn gluten meal. This natural material is a by-product of the wet milling process used to produce corn starch and corn syrup from corn.

Corn gluten meal is 60% protein and contains 10% nitrogen, by weight.

Corn gluten meal is not the corn meal found in grocery stores, as so many sites on social media claim. Corn meal has no herbicidal properties and as far as I can tell the only thing it will do in the garden is feed ants and slugs.

Corn Gluten Meal Does It Work For Weeds

Corn gluten meal is the new herbicide for lawns. The movement away from synthetic chemical herbicides has left a gap for managing lawns and researchers are scrambling to find an organic solution. One product that is showing promise is corn gluten meal. Its proponents claim that it prevents weed seed from germinating, and if seeds dont germinate you have a weed free lawn. Sounds like a perfect solution.

There are scientific reports, both for and against the product. Anecdotal evidence from gardeners is also mixed. Does the product work? How should it be used? Are people using it correctly?

lawn and corn gluten meal

There Are Two Types Of Corn Gluten Meal

There are two types of corn gluten meal? Yes, and most organic gardening experts dont even know this fact. There is a more expensive corn gluten meal that is 60% protein and there is a less expensive corn gluten meal that is 20% protein, yet they have the exact same name. There is a huge price difference between the two different types of corn gluten meal products. Some manufacturers will use the much less expensive 20% CGM or mix in a 50%/50% blend to save money, but the results will be vastly different.

A 60% protein corn gluten meal product will control weeds when applied at a 20 pounds per 1000 square feet rate. Yet the 20% protein corn gluten meal will only control weeds if applied at 60 pounds per 1000 square feet. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell from an ingredient list if the corn gluten meal used in a product is 20% protein or 60% protein.

At Organo-Lawn we make sure that the corn gluten meal we use in our Synergy product is a 60% protein CGM.

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Is Cornmeal Good For Lawns

beneficiallawn

. Beside this, does cornmeal kill grass?

Gluten Cornmeal as Weed KillerIt is important to note that cornmeal gluten is only effective against seeds, not plants that are mature, and is most effective with corn gluten having at least 60% proteins in it. For annual weeds that are growing, plain cornmeal products will not kill it.

Subsequently, question is, how do I use cornmeal in my garden? If you have a water feature in your garden or are growing a water garden, then use cornmeal there. Use it at a rate of five pounds per 1,000 square feet to tie up excess phosphorus in the water. It also helps to keep the pH balance in the water so that algae cannot start growing.

Consequently, what does corn gluten do for your lawn?

Corn Gluten: An Organic Pre-Emergent Herbicide. Corn gluten meal is a powdery byproduct of the corn milling process. It can be effective as a pre-emergent herbicide used to control crabgrass and other lawn weeds, and it also has nutritional properties.

When should I apply cornmeal to my lawn?

Because they’re established, a spring application of corn gluten meal will not kill them. To ensure you suppress all of the weeds, apply corn gluten meal in two applications, with the first in late spring and the second in late summer.

Corn Gluten Meal Kills Lawn Weeds

Corn Gluten Meal , a by-product of corn milling, is one of the few organic herbicides used in organic lawn care. As a bonus, its also a great organic fertilizer due to its high nitrogen content.

There are few organic ways of effectively controlling weeds: homemade remedies like salted water, vinegar, and citrus oils, all intended for weeds already growing. But theres only one organic pre-emergent treatment known and that is Corn Gluten Meal .

According to the EPAs website , CGM is not harmful to humans, to other non-target organisms, or to the environment. Furthermore, it provides a safer alternative to toxic chemicals commonly used for weed control on lawns.

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Natural Weed Control For Grass

Synergy with corn gluten meal is one of the best organic fertilizers because it produces a long lasting green-up of grass. Synergy is a natural weed control made from corn and does not contain any synthetic chemicals. Synergy is a great option for those looking for a natural way to prevent weed seeds from germinating properly in your Boulder lawn.

We recommend spring applications of Synergy in March or early April and a fall application is also recommended in late September or October.

Lawns in the Boulder and Fort Collins area respond extremely well to Synergy applications because all the nitrogen is 100% organic and naturally slow release. This means the nitrogen in this organic fertilizer will only become available to the grass after the microbes in the soil decompose the corn gluten meal. This means the corn gluten meal will slowly feed the lawn and it is impossible to burn a lawn using a 100% slow release organic fertilizer. Since organic fertilizers are naturally slow release, the end result is a long lasting beautiful deep-dark green colored lawn.

Synergy with corn gluten meal is derived from only the highest quality natural ingredients and is considered non-toxic to people, pets, dogs, cats and children.

How Corn Gluten Works

Corn gluten does not prevent weed seeds from germinating, but it does inhibit those seeds from forming roots after germination. This means that applications must be very carefully timed. When the application of corn gluten is timed correctly, crabgrass seeds germinating will form shoots but not roots, and will therefore die, provided there is a short dry period after seed germination. However, if conditions are too wet immediately after seed germination, the weed can recover and establish a root.

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Q: Is Corn Meal Gluten Safe For Pets

A: Since its made from corn, this meal should be 100% safe around small children and pets. Its actually edible by humans, although its not very tasty, and its used in some forms of animal kibble.

Having said that, you should avoid letting your dogs, cats, or children chow down on it. While it wont hurt them, its also not the best nutritional choice for them. Keep your fertilizers secured and out of their reach.

Not Applying Corn Gluten Meal Heavy Enough

I have had many homeowners say, your corn gluten meal application works so much better than the one I did myself. They proceed to take me to their garage or shed and show me a small 20 pound bag of CGM that is half used and they say I applied this last year and I had tons of weeds. I tell them that the entire 20 pound bag would only cover about 1/5th of their entire lawn. That is when their eyes get big, they laugh out loud and say something like, oh, so I didnt use nearly enough.

For corn gluten meal to control weeds, it needs to be applied at 20 pounds per 1000 square feet. This is a very heavy application rate, especially compared to a chemical fertilizer, which typically has an application rate of 2-3 lbs per 1000 square feet. Most broadcast spreaders are not designed to apply corn gluten meal and even at the highest setting they cannot apply at a 20 pounds per 1000 square feet rate. Therefore, multiple passes may be necessary for certain spreaders.

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Need An Organic Weed Control Solution

Corn gluten meal for weed control is an effective alternative to using synthetic chemical herbicides that can pose a number of risks both for the environment and health.

At Organic Lawns by LUNSETH, we have years of experience in carefully and effectively applying OMRI-certified corn gluten to lawns and achieving impressive results that protect your lawn and the environment.

Gluten Cornmeal As Weed Killer

Researchers at Iowa State University discovered by accident that cornmeal gluten acts as an herbicide while they were doing disease research. They saw that corn gluten meal kept grass and other seeds, such as crabgrass, dandelions, and chickweed from sprouting.

It is important to note that cornmeal gluten is only effective against seeds, not plants that are mature, and is most effective with corn gluten having at least 60% proteins in it. For annual weeds that are growing, plain cornmeal products will not kill it. These weeds include:

However, cornmeal gluten will stop the seeds that these weeds shed in the summer so that the weeds will not increase. With consistent use of gluten meal products, these weeds will gradually decline.

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How To Use Cornmeal Gluten In The Garden

Many people use corn gluten on their lawns, but it can be safely and effectively used in gardens as well. Using gluten cornmeal in gardens is a great way to keep weed seeds from sprouting and will not damage existing plants, shrubs, or trees.

Be sure to follow the application instructions on the package and apply before weeds start to grow. Sometimes this can be a very tight window, but is best done in early spring. In flower and vegetable beds where seeds are sown, be sure to wait to apply at least until the seeds are grown up a bit. If applied too early, it can prevent these seeds from sprouting.

Where Can I Buy Corn Gluten Meal

Corn Meal will still be very difficult to find in Australia, which is mainly due to our slow uptake of using organic lawn and gardening products. But the more we all ask for it from resellers and retailers, the more it will become readily known and available to us all. If the supermarket-style hardware shops and other retailers dont stock Corn Meal, then its high time that we all start putting some pressure onto them to begin to stock these organic products as an alternative to the chemical options.

So for now, while it may still be difficult to obtain, we must still discuss it in this article, and we all must start to ask for this and other organic lawn care products from suppliers.

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How To Use Corn Gluten Meal

To use corn gluten meals natural herbicidal effect, it takes more than you would expect. A basic estimate is 20 pounds of meal for 1,000 square feet. That quantity increases if the soil is poor.

For lawns, you can use a spreader to evenly spread the meal across the entire lawns surface. This is especially easy with the pelletized and granular forms available.

Be cautious of using corn gluten meal in garden use if you plan on direct-sowing seeds. That natural pre-emergence herbicide may prevent your seeds from developing.

As a fertilizer in the garden, wait until your plants are already established. You can then lightly work it into the surface or top-dress with it, as desired.

In the fall, work some corn gluten through your soil and spread another layer overtop. This will prevent winter and early spring weeds and start breaking down in the soil. If you plan on growing winter crops, be sure theyre already established first!

Wait to fertilize with corn gluten fertilizer until any seeds youve planted have sprouted and formed their first pair of true leaves. This ensures that theyve already started to develop healthy roots. In the case of grass seed, wait until theres at least 1.5 of grass height before fertilizing.

While some people do mix corn gluten in water and make a corn gluten fertilizer tea, it is less effective that way. For a light weekly application of fertilizer, this is useful, but much less potent than the meal is.

How Much Is Needed

Application rates vary by form: powder, pelletized or granulated. The standard application rate is 20 pounds of corn gluten per 1,000 square feet of lawn. This rate also provides about 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

The effects of corn gluten are cumulative, meaning that the results improve with repeated use over time.

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Cgm Works Gradually And Effectively

While utilizing corn gluten for lawns is an effective means of pre-emergent weed control, its important to understand that it gradually becomes more effective and its typically most productive during its third year of application. CGM can take some time to build up in soil and as it does so, it increasingly disrupts weed germination as a pre-emergent.

To effectively treat your lawn using corn gluten meal, we pay particular attention to factors including: Application rates and timing. Early spring is the most effective time of year to apply a CGM treatment. A strategic application of CGM by the Lunseth team ensures controlled results, targeting crabgrass and other weeds while avoiding disruption of grass seed germination.

Comparison Chart For Best Corn Gluten Meal For Lawns

Our team scanned 48379 reviews before putting any suggestions for the Corn Gluten Meal For Lawns in this article.

• A Staple in Organic Gardening
• Natural Soil Amendment
• Helps fight root and soil related fungal problems
• 40 lb.

• Helps fight root and soil related fungal problems
• 7 lb. bag

• Stop weeds before they start for up to 3 months guaranteed
• Safe for use around over 200 established flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs
• Apply anytime in spring, summer or fall
• Not for use on lawns
• Weed preventer does not kill existing weeds
• Safe for use on edibles
• Covers 2,080 sq. ft.

• Apply this product only in EARLY SPRING and FALL
• Barricade professional-grade pre-emergent weed control is designed to prevent weeds, and will not aid in eliminating existing weeds.
• Contains 0.
• Trusted by top turf care professionals to prevent problem weeds without harming desirable plants
• DG Pro formulation allows for more particles per square inch of chemical leads to better control of weeds.

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