Organic Lawn Care
Organic lawn care is an easy-to-follow systematic approach to a beautiful lawn. You may think that without the use of insecticides and pesticides one would have difficulty growing lush grass. Not so.
Insecticides and pesticides destroys the ecosystem in the soil: the worms, microorganisms and macroorganisms that live in the soil and keep it alive and healthy. The result is that the soil becomes depleted, the grass is not getting full nourishment, so it becomes prey to bugs.
The secret to a beautiful lush lawn is to keep your grass healthy. Compare that to your health. If you stay healthy, you can fight the viruses and diseases more easily, right? The same goes with any plant including grass.
To achieve a healthy lawn, consider using this step-by-step organic lawn care system:
1. Cut no more than a third of the grass blade length and leave the clippings in the grass. This reduces the need for fertilizer by 30%.
Set your lawn mower higher so as to mow high – up to 3 inches- and mow often. Not only should you mow higher, you should also keep your blades sharp so that you do not tear and injure the grass.
Grass doesn’t drink its food through its roots. Like any other plant, the grass gathers its nutrients through its roots, but manufactures its food in its leaves — the green part of the leaf. Therefore if the leaf is cut back to one inch high, it is as healthy as you would be with one meal a week. The lowest you should cut it is two inches (5 cm) minimum, and three inches (8cm) is best.
A second reason for keeping the grass blade at least 2 inches long is that the long blade shades the roots so keeps them cool. Secondly, longer grass makes its more difficult for weeds to grow.
2. Test The ph Of Your Soil — if grass cracks, the ph is off.
Test the ph of your soil. If you don’t know how to do this, you will find the full explanation at http://www.plantsandgardeningtips.com/backyard-gardening/testing-your-soil
Grass requires a slightly acidic soil (a ph of 6.5 to 7 is best). Soil that is too acidic can be ’sweetened” with garden lime. Please be careful with lime. You need very little to make a difference. Follow directions carefully.
On the other hand, soil that is too alkiline can be made more “sour” by adding sulfur. (Again, follow directions carefully)
3. Fertilize Only As Needed
Best time to fertilize is in the fall. Most lawns need to be fertilized every year because they need more nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium than soil usually contain (unless you mulch your clippings as mentioned above). Most fertilizers have these three elements but they vary in proportion, depending what you buy.
Avoid the stuff that makes your lawn grow quickly — your grass does not have time to root deeply; this new fast growth is weak and becomes easy prey to bugs.
Use a slow-release granular fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are best because they last the whole year and prevent weak green growth that bugs love to eat.
If you need a plant activator, use fish emulsion or kelp. Microbes feed on it and it makes better soil.
4. Aerate And Add Soil Amendments
Aeration is important in order to allow the grass roots to breathe in air in order to work properly. A root trying to breathe in packed soil is comparable to a human trying to breathe with a plastic bag over his/her head. Note that where the soil is compacted you will see a lot of dandelions.
Rent a small aerator or hire an organic lawn business to do it once a year. Next rake it all smooth, and overseed it with a bit of high quality chewing fescue or perennial ryegrass. Most ryegrasses have endorphins, so the thicker the better. Then water the seed in.
5. Water For Maximum Absorption
Watering deeply and not too often is best. Watering properly will help your lawn grow deep roots that make it stronger and less vulnerable to drought. Frequent shallow watering trains the roots to stay near the surface; thus the lawn is less able to find moisture during dry periods.
Bluegrass lawns need about one inch of water once a week. Fescues and perennial ryegrasses need only about half that much. Put a small can on the lawn before turning the sprinkler on to measure watering accurately.
Depending on local rainfall, soil type, the type of grass chosen, and the general health of the lawn, you may have more or less watering needs. However, no well established lawn should need to be watered daily.
When you do water your lawn, try to imitate a slow, soaking rain by using soaker hoses, trickle irrigations, or other water conserving methods. Watering should be done early in the morning. Watering during a hot summer day is a waste because of evaporation. Apply about one inch of water — enough that it soaks 6 to 8 inches into the soil. Then let the lawn dry out thoroughly before watering it again.
6. Top Dress With Compost and Topsoil
When you wish to level your ground and to prepare for overseeding, top dress with compost and/or topsoil. Use “soil for grass” — not for garden. Putting down about 1/8 inch is best. Buy the sterilized soil or certified weed free soil. You can also choose to use compost to relieve compaction.
7. Overseed With Grass Varieties Appropriate For The Specific Area
Like any plant, grass has preferences. Some grass prefer a humid climate while other grasses do very well in an area with water shortages.
Other factors to consider are type of soil required, nutrients they need, and their resistance to pests. In addition, certain grasses grow well in shade while others require full sun. It might be to your advantage to check these factors before you buy grass seed for your lawn.
If you buy sod, you usually get bluegrass which has V-shaped leaves with fairly blunt ends. Bluegrass needs a lot of water and sun compared to other grasses.
Chewings fescue has very fine leaves with slightly rolled edges and visible veins. This grass grows well in shady areas. The creeping red fescue is best for dry areas.
If you grow perennial ryegrass, you will notice that this grass (particularly the varieties “Cutter” and “Edge”) are good at resisting insect problems. The ryegrass leaf has prominent veins and is shinier below than above
8. Dethatch When Thatch Is Too Thick
Have you ever noticed a layer of dead material between the grass blades and the soil? If so, you were looking at thatch buildup. If this thatch buildup gets to be more than half an inch thick, it will prevent the water and nutrients from reaching the soil. Not good!
If your lawn is healthy, this thatch is kept in balance by the microorganisms and earthworms who help it decompose and release its nutrients into the soil.
However, sometimes certain grasses tend to form a thick layer of thatch or you may have overfertilized your lawn or used a fertilizer which made the grass grow quickly.
In such a situation, you can get rid of a lot of that thatch (especially in the spring) by giving your lawn a good raking or by using a machine that slices through the thatch layer to break it up.
Another way to get rid of some of the thatch is to sprinkle a thin layer of topsoil or compost.
9. Control white grubs safely.
Find out more about how to safely control white grubs in your lawn by clicking
http://www.pestcontroloptions.com/grubs/natural-treatment-for-lawn-grubs.
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June 22nd, 2009 21:58
[...] For more detail, read Organic Lawn Care, steps 5 & 6, at http://www.plantsandgardeningt.....-lawn-care [...]
June 28th, 2009 23:35
[...] http://www.plantsandgardeningt.....-lawn-care [...]
July 24th, 2009 07:54
[...] A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 2nd, 2009 20:19
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system .Article [...]
August 2nd, 2009 21:33
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system .Article [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:10
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system .Article [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:16
[...] Author: Marcie SnyderA gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:41
[...] Taking care of the environment begins in our own back yard. We now know how insecticides and herbicides are having huge detrimental effects on both humans and the environment, so why not work with nature to create a healthier, greener environment for ourselves and our children — the sooner the better. Switching to an environmentally friendly lawn care system is one of the many ways we can all help clean up and save our environment. A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:41
[...] Taking care of the environment begins in our own back yard. We now know how insecticides and herbicides are having huge detrimental effects on both humans and the environment, so why not work with nature to create a healthier, greener environment for ourselves and our children — the sooner the better. Switching to an environmentally friendly lawn care system is one of the many ways we can all help clean up and save our environment. A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:44
[...] Author: Marcie SnyderA gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:47
[...] A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 2nd, 2009 22:50
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . Other posts in GardeningThrifty Living Tips For Spring – 5 Thrifty Gardening Ideas For [...]
August 3rd, 2009 01:40
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system .Article [...]
August 3rd, 2009 06:53
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system .Article [...]
August 3rd, 2009 08:16
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system .Article [...]
August 3rd, 2009 09:11
[...] Taking care of the environment begins in our own back yard. We now know how insecticides and herbicides are having huge detrimental effects on both humans and the environment, so why not work with nature to create a healthier, greener environment for ourselves and our children — the sooner the better. Switching to an environmentally friendly lawn care system is one of the many ways we can all help clean up and save our environment.A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 3rd, 2009 18:50
[...] A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
August 8th, 2009 06:06
Thanks for posting this info. I’m really looking forward to changing my lawn maintenance into more organic. I’m really greatful with such post.
September 2nd, 2009 23:01
[...] Posted by admin People are afraid that if they switch to an environmentally friendly lawn care method, they will have difficulty having beautiful green grass because of grubs or unwanted weeds. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if you have done the ground work, you will notice that an environmentally friendly lawn care system is superior to using insecticides/pesticides for many reasons.First of all, you will notice that once the initial work is done, this innovative lawn care method is more economical than the old-fashion method of having to buy lawn fertilizers and spraying twice or more times during one summer with all kinds of chemicals.Secondly, using ecological or natural lawn care methods supports the ecosystem in many ways.1. Your grass keeps getting thicker and thicker which prevents soil erosion2. Your soil becomes a rich source of worms and other microorganisms which help nourish the soil and keep it healthy. In turn, a healthy soil promotes growth.3. A soil full of worms provides food for the birds which in turn help you get rid of unwanted insects4. Grass which is not contaminated can filter contaminants from rainwater and many types of pollutants such as soot and dust from the air5. And more importantly for us humans, healthy grass, like trees, can absorb the carbon dioxide from the air and give off oxygen back into the air. This exchange helps clean the air. Switching to an environmentally friendly lawn care system is one way to help diminish the effects of global warming.In order to get good results when using an environmentally friendly lawn care system, you must think “preventative”. In other words you must take steps to discourage weeds and insects from taking over your lawn.If you follow these steps, you can work with nature and avoid using pesticides/herbicides but still have a beautiful lawn:A. Mow high (up to 3 inches) and often so that you cut no more than a third of the blade length at a time.B Use a mulching lawn mower and allow the mulched clippings to fall back onto the lawn where they can decompose into rich fertilizer which promotes a slow but steady growth year round. With nutrients being slowly but constantly released, the grass can produce good strong roots which are not as attractive to grubs.C. If you must fertilize, avoid fertilizers which make the grass grow very quickly. Too much fertilizing or using fertilizers with a high nitrogen or using “green up” liquid fertilizers makes the grass grow fast — too fast. It cannot develop good firm roots, so you end up with weak roots which grubs just love. Fertilizing once a year is more than enough.D. As more and more of your clippings continue to fall back onto the lawn, it will accumulate between the grass blades. If you have half an inch or more of this thatch, you may need to dethatch. Otherwise, the water will not get through to the soil.E. Water sparingly (once or twice a week) and deeply. Keep a small container on your lawn at all times to measure the amount of water your lawn gets when you water or when it rains. When watering, don’t stop until there is at least 2 cm of water in the container. In addition make sure the water has penetrated the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches minimum.F. If you need to level your lawn, top dress with topsoil for lawns mixed with compost to prepare it for overseedingG. When overseeding, use grass varieties which suit the specific location (sunny spot? shady spot?)H. When the soil becomes compacted, aerate and add soil amendments such as compost or sand to relieve compactionI. Use an environmentally safe method to control white grub. Put nematodes back into your lawn. Nematodes seek out white grubs, citrus root weevils, the Japanese beetles, the May/June pupa of the beetles, the European/Masked chafer, the black vine weevil, and the sod webworm.Taking care of the environment begins in our own back yard. We now know how insecticides and herbicides are having huge detrimental effects on both humans and the environment, so why not work with nature to create a healthier, greener environment for ourselves and our children — the sooner the better. Switching to an environmentally friendly lawn care system is one of the many ways we can all help clean up and save our environment.By: Marcie SnyderAbout the Author: A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
December 3rd, 2009 03:48
[...] type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . Posted in lawn care | Tags: care, Environmentally, Friendly, [...]
December 23rd, 2009 07:12
[...] do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . Lawn Care [...]
January 1st, 2010 03:16
[...] A gardener for years, Marcie has learned through experience that working with the natural laws of nature is by far the best way to do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . [...]
January 1st, 2010 12:12
[...] do any type of gardening — even lawns can benefit from it. Get more indepth details re steps to an environmentally friendly lawn care system . Featured Topics: Effects Of Global Warming • Fashion [...]