Organic Lawn Care, Is it Possible?

The word organic: You can’t go too far these days without hearing about the health benefits of organically grown food or the environmentally sound reasons why you should opt for a hybrid car. The move towards a more eco conscious world is definitely on the rise. So, what does this mean in the world of lawn care? Is organic lawn care practical, or even possible?

What is Organic Lawn Care?

The first step to an organic yard is to identify what that term means as it pertains to your lawn. Agriculturally, the word organic relates to avoiding the use of man-made chemicals in favor of naturally occurring fertilizers, weed killers, and other growing aids.

Fertilizers are a ‘middle of the road’ type of product since the beneficial elements such as nitrogen and potassium are present in organic (natural) fertilizers as well as synthetic products. The decision to substitute synthetic products is a personal one. With that said, you must decide whether organic means “all natural” or “non-harmful.” Once this decision is made, it’s time to evaluate the needs of your lawn and decide how you will care for it.

The Process

Once you make the decision to have an eco friendly lawn, you’ll begin to notice that plants and types of grass that are not “native” to your area will be much more difficult to care for than they once were. For this reason, it makes sense to grow the types of grass that are recommended for (or occur naturally in) your area. Your Best Lawn Care specialist can help you determine the best turf and foliage for your lawn.

Another noticeable difference is the fact that you will need to plan out your lawn care according to the particular cycles of lawn growth as well as weed germination periods. Why? Because with an organic lawn there are no quick fixes for a yard gone wild. There is no jug of Round Up to get you back on track. The beauty of your yard will depend primarily on the way you naturally care for it. Proper mowing, feeding, and watering will be your keys to success.

Is it Really that Complicated?

Good news! Although it may seem complicated at first, you’ll catch on. Over time you’ll begin to realize that you can really do without that bottle of Round Up. Once you learn how your lawn works naturally, you can avoid the mistakes that generally lead to weed overgrowth and disease.

For example, most individuals aren’t aware that mowing their lawn too short is one of the main causes of weed invasion. When using chemical weed killers, you really don’t have to learn this because a quick solution is right at your fingertips. But, as you become more educated in the natural means of caring for your lawn, you’ll pick up these tips and learn to avoid weeds and disease in the first place.

Organic Lawn Care 101

To help get you started, here are several basic keys to a successful organic yard:

Mowing – Always use a sharp blade and mow regularly. Follow the 1/3 rule. Never cut more than a third of the blade. Keeping your grass at this slightly higher length will keep the weeds crowded out and actually allows you to go longer between mowing. Use your lawn clippings as a natural fertilizer.

Watering – Don’t overwater! Make a simple rain gauge or purchase the kind that you can stick right into the ground. Start out with watering one inch per week and make adjustments according to your weather and rainfall. Always water early in the day, preferably before 9 am.

Pesticides – Corn gluten meal is an excellent natural form of weed control. It prevents crabgrass from germinating and is not harmful to the environment. Another lifesaver may be in your yard just waiting to be put to use. Leaves from the red maple or sugar maple tree, when mulched and spread over the lawn, have proven to have an amazing ability to prevent dandelions and other broadleaf weeds from germinating. Just think; you may have been bagging up your pesticide all these years!

Now that you have a few important tips under your belt, I’m sure you are beginning to realize that organic lawn care is both possible and practical. The main key is to stick to your lawn care schedule so that things don’t get out of hand. If you need help, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can take over some or all of your organic lawn care needs. We are happy to assist you in your decision to “go green!”