Get an Organic Green Lawn

The signs of a chemically-dependent lawn are obvious – sparse grass, moss & mildew, yellow spots, insect damage and a spongy feel underfoot caused by a buildup of thatch.

The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans dump over 90 million pounds of chemical pesticides and herbicides on their lawns. Plus, since the chemicals don’t treat the cause of the problem, they must be purchased and used again and again in order to keep the problem under control. This is great for the lawn chemical manufacturer, but extremely detrimental to the health of people, animals and the environment.

Because homeowners’ use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides is considered by the EPA to be heavy, they report that these chemicals likely migrate into homes, further exposing people and pets to their harmful effects.

Organic Lawn Care Gets to the Root of the Problem

More and more people are discovering that organic lawn care is much more effective in the long run for producing a lush green lawn. Following are five easy & inexpensive tips to help create a lawn that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

Aerate the Lawn

Aerating a lawn literally punches holes through the turf and into the soil. These holes increase the circulation of air and water around the roots of the grass. This encourages the growth of healthy microorganisms that destroy thatch, the layer of dead grass that suffocates the lawn.

Lawn aeration also encourages the roots of the grass to grow deeper. A strong, deep root system is a lawn’s best protection against drought.

It’s best to aerate either in the fall or the spring, when the soil is damp but not saturated. The do-it-yourselfer can rent an aerator from a local home improvement store; those who’d rather pay someone else to do the work can contract with a lawn care company to aerate their lawn.

Raise the Mower Blade

Grass that’s cut higher is healthier overall that grass that’s clipped short. This is true for a couple of reasons. First, longer grass has more surface area to hold water and nutrients. Also, taller grass will shade the weeds, discouraging their growth.

Use Organic Fertilizer

Quick-release synthetic fertilizers give a quick green-up to lawns with a strong hit of nitrogen. However, this does nothing to promote strong root growth or make the soil healthier.

Also, synthetic fertilizers are comprised primarily of chemical salts, which are extremely harmful to earthworms and other beneficial insects and microorganisms living beneath the surface.

Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, release nutrients slowly, the way nature intended. They have a complex, natural composition of chemicals that encourage the roots of the grass to consume them only when they’re needed, rather than force-feeding them like synthetic fertilizers do. This encourages a deep, strong root system.

Organic Fertilizers Also Nourish the Soil

Natural fertilizers are like superfood cocktails for the soil. They contain micronutrients and live beneficial microbials and bacteria, which naturally increase the oxygen level in the soil. The environment within the soil becomes more diverse and complex, which results in natural pest and disease resistance.

Finally, organic fertilizers don’t burn the lawn like synthetic fertilizers tend to do. And perhaps most importantly, they contain no toxins or ecohazardous chemicals, so they don’t pollute the water or the soil.

Water Less

The more frequently grass is watered, the less “work” it has to do to reach the water. Frequent watering encourages shallow roots, which in turn increases thatch and makes lawns vulnerable to drought. Experts recommend watering one inch per week, which encourages the grass to grow a healthy, deep root system. Water in the early morning hours so the water doesn’t evaporate in the heat of the day, and so the blades of grass aren’t wet when it’s dark (which encourages fungal diseases).

Let the Clover Live!

Clover growing in the lawn indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Happily, clover can also bring more nitrogen to the soil. Simply leave the clover clippings on the lawn after mowing; they will slowly add nitrogen to the lawn as they break down. As the nitrogen level increases, the clover will naturally decrease.

Results? A Safe, Emerald-Green Carpet of Grass

Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t mean the lawn needs to be sacrificed. Organic lawn care does require patience, because it won’t produce overnight results like synthetic fertilizers do. But in the long run, it saves a great deal of time and money, and creates a toxin-free space that’s good for the health of the family, animals and the environment.

Check out this article for more easy & effective ideas!

Sources

US Environmental Protection Agency Web site

The Rodale Institute