A Subscription Service That's an Easy Solution to Fertilizing Your Lawn
Keeping a lawn lush and healthy can quickly become overwhelming when you're trying to make sure you're mowing properly, feeding it enough, and keeping weeds like crabgrass at bay. Most of us aren't keen on using synthetic fertilizers and herbicides if we can help it, especially with young children traipsing through the grass. So when I recently came across Sunday, a subscription service for your lawn, which promises a beautiful, healthy lawn without harsh chemicals, I decided to give it a go. Instead of the one-size-fits-all approach that you'd get from a lawn care service, Sunday provides you with a customized plan, so you know exactly what you should be feeding your grass and when.
David McDonald
To get this customized plan, all you have to do is take a quick questionnaire on Sunday's website. Where you live, the size of your property, the climate in your area, and the type of grass you have, all help pinpoint the best products for your lawn. For example, the first thing to figure out is how much product you'll need for the total square footage of lawn you have. But no need to break out the tape measure—Sunday calculates the exact amounts of product to send, based on your address and a little help from Google Maps to determine the area of lawn versus other features, such as the house footprint, driveway, and garden areas. The custom lawn plan starts at $129, depending on the type and quantity of nutrients you need.
My first shipment contained two pouches of a starter fertilizer containing seaweed extracts and iron. It had been over a year since my lawn had received any kind of fertilizer so it needed a little pick-me-up. And applying the nutrients didn't require fancy tools or sprayers. Sunday includes a nozzle that screws right onto the pouches on one end and screws onto a hose on the other. Then all you have to do is turn on the spigot and water your lawn. The idea is to move quickly, just wetting the grass, which absorbs the nutrients through its leaves. I was done before I knew it, and didn't notice any unpleasant odors afterwards, the way I often can after a lawn care company has worked on my neighbor's property.
Courtesy of Sunday The first shipment from Sunday includes pouches of a natural starter fertilizer, spray nozzles, and a soil test kit.
The initial box the pouches came in also included a simple soil test kit that was easy to use for sending my sample. Sunday used the results to further tailor the nutrients for my yard, since there's no point in applying fertilizers that aren't needed. The company will continue to ship more nutrient pouches throughout the growing season, scheduled to show up at the right time to apply for maximum benefit. I love that I don't have to worry about when to feed the lawn, or whether I'm giving it too much or too little fertilizer. I can just keep an eye on my mailbox and Sunday has it all figured out for me.
The convenience is much appreciated, but for me, the best part of the Sunday system is that its nutrient pouches are safe to use around kids and pets. And because they don't contain any harsh synthetic chemicals, they won't damage healthy soil ecology. Instead, they're made with natural ingredients, such as seaweed, soy protein, and molasses, based on cutting-edge research from Cornell. And though it's only been a few weeks since I made the first two applications, I can already see that my lawn looks greener and thicker.
Because Sunday's goal is to help you build a healthy lawn (which will naturally make it harder for weeds to take hold), the basic subscription doesn't include weed control. But if you're having problems with weeds, it does offer organic products you can order. These herbicides use less toxic, natural ingredients, so I gave Sunday's Dandelion Doom a shot on some stubborn weeds that pop up in cracks in the driveway and sidewalk. A quick, targeted squirt and within 24 hours, just crispy leaves were left.
Bottom line: You'll still have to do your own mowing, but Sunday can take care of nearly all the rest of your lawn care needs. As long as you have a hose for watering, you can distribute its customized nutrient solutions across your lawn, and the company will let you know when it's time for more. For me, that means I have more time to just kick back and enjoy a game of tag with my kids on our lush, thriving lawn.
