My husband and I recently bought a house that was a foreclosure for 1 1/2 years, hence a yard that needs a lot of work to bring it back to health. Both of us are newbie gardeners and would like to take care of our lawn organically. The soil is hard and compacted and in need of some life breathing into it! We are going to get that tested, but meanwhile about mowing.. we've been bagging all the clippings but read it's better to just leave them on the ground as a kind of mulch. Thing is we have dandelions, bindweed, thistle (a few different kinds), loads of mallow and a number of others not identified yet. I understand that the flowers can have seeds and so would make sense not to leave those lying around after mowing, but what about the other parts?
I've read that cutting bindweed at the soil level is best and not letting it go to flower, not sure what do do with the mallow though, we have a lot of big well established plants with flowers. I understand the mallow roots run very deep and if we were to attempt to dig it up we'd have huge holes in the lawn, shall we just mow over the mallow for now? The thistle seems to shrivel really effectively with a vinegar/soap solution sprayed onto them.
Appreciate any input. Thanks.
