Why Cottonseed Meal and Cornmeal Are Poor Lawn Choices

Contaminant Concerns

• Cottonseed meal: Conventionally grown cotton is heavily sprayed; residues persist in meal.
• Cornmeal: Mostly GMO; high pesticide load; no pre-emergent activity.
• Generic animal feeds: Unknown composition; may contain antibiotics, medications, or imbalanced nutrients.

Safer Organic Lawn Inputs

• Diluted fish fertilizer (liquid, balanced).
• Alfalfa meal/pellets (nitrogen + triacontanol growth promoter).
• Composted poultry manure (3–4% N).
• Corn gluten meal (9–10% N + pre-emergent).

Source

Certified organic amendments available via Planet Natural (Avant-Gardening resource page).