Beige, tan, off white, brown, taupe, light gray, even more beige – miles and miles of naturally bland landscape as these were the dominate colors of southern Arizona’s stony setting. In the fields beyond the roadways to our common suburban front yard, rocks permeated most flat surfaces as searing temperatures above 100 degrees is no country for old gardens – or inexpert gardeners.

We then left an oven-like heat of the desert for the milder climate of Northeast Florida and landed in a place where, in December, there were roses blooming.

Yet, about 90 percent of our spacious backyard was composed of dollar weeds and other undesired plants. I considered calling a lawn service for weed control but since we had an older dog who needed frequent trips into the backyard, such chemical treatments weren’t an option, so what to do?

Research took me to the department of horticulture at Iowa State University. There, in Iowa, the world’s leader in corn production with over 13 billion bushels in a year, those wonderful agricultural scientists discovered a byproduct of the corn wet-milling process, Corn Gluten Meal. This 100 percent corn-protein creation turns out to be a “natural” pre-emergence herbicide that can be used on field crops or home gardens.

Corn Gluten Meal looks like extra course corn meal and it’s spread on the ground like traditional fertilizer, ideally before a light rain; otherwise, a light spray with the water hose is needed.

Friends, what happens is that CGM acts like placing a plastic wrap on a bowl of food to protect it. If the ground is not disturbed – no plucking of weeds post application – the seal remains intact and when the weeds germinate to make new weeds, those seeds become tender shoots but cannot become a root, thereby blocking future growth and they die.

The key is that the product must have a 60 percent protein ratio so be sure to check the label as imitation products are popping up like Hawksbeard with increased popularity. Also, and not to be too nitpicky, but if those dying weed shoots get extra water from, say, heavy rain or overwatering, they will recover and become roots. CGM also acts as plant food as over a period of three to four months it s-l-o-w-l-y breaks down into nitrogen, about 10 percent. Because the breakdown is slow, the plants receive a longer stretch of nourishment and there isn’t excess to run into the river and cause those damaging algae blooms.

After the first year of using the product in a cycle of late spring, fall and then early spring, my backyard of weeds had transformed to show a lush lawn of mostly St. Augustine grass. After two years of use, a few weeds, and by year three, no weeds – no crabgrass, chickweed, or dollar weeds.

The CGM bonus of a healthier soil and lawn – one as safe as Grandma’s corn muffins for kids, pets, our spectacular St. Johns River – meant NO extra watering; I also never cut my grass shorter than four inches – and in the hottest months, not below five or six inches as the top part of the blade shades and protects the turf base. Grass that is sliced short is stressed as the base is exposed and can lead to damaged or diseased roots.

Are there weeds that CGM won’t impact?

The answer is both yes and no. Some perennial weeds such as quack grass or dandelions won’t be immediately affected as their roots survive under the soil. I remove those by hand before spreading CGM – I also allow, to be absolutely honest, a few dandelions in the garden as they do attract favorite insects. But keep this in mind, the stronger the grass, the less room for weeds so long-term benefits include prevention of almost any weed.

If it looks like cornmeal and is safe like cornmeal, can cornmeal be substituted for Corn Gluten Meal?

No, cornmeal and CGM are completely different byproducts of corn and are used for different horticultural purposes. Cornmeal is a fungal disease fighter and algae control, but won’t do anything for weeds. Only CGM is a natural weed and feed.

Corn Gluten Meal can be purchased online or, locally, at Ace Hardware stores in the lawn and garden shop with a 40-pound bag ringing in at $59.99.

At the four-year mark, my backyard was called a beautiful park by visitors and when I was out in the front yard, people stopped to ask me what I used on my great green lawn.

“Ever hear of Iowa,” I smiled, “because they know corn.”