Organic Lawn Care

A lawn which has been untouched by man-made chemicals for more than five years is considered to be organic; however if it hasn’t been maintained it could be struggling for survival, and this will begin to show sooner or later. Just because “organic” is the goal, it does not give the owner license to abandon care, which is often the case. An organic lawn will require maintenance, just as a drugged lawn does, otherwise the weeds will take over and the organic gardener will lose their causal inspiration.

Maintaining an Organic Lawn

The first rule to organic lawn maintenance, is to mow the lawn high and to leave the grass clippings on the lawn as these will act as a natural fertilizer without causing thatch. If the grass is cut too short it will:

• Dry out faster as there will be less natural shade and the roots will not grow as deeply, meaning it will require more water.
• Weeds will grow easier as there will be less competition, allowing the weeds to shoot up above the grass.
• The grass will grow faster as it will be in a panic to restore itself. This means it will need to be mowed more frequently. If it is cut longer, it will not “panic” and will instead put more energy into growing roots, rather than tops, encouraging a stronger, thicker lawn.

The second rule to maintaining an organic lawn is to water less frequently, but to use more water at these times. Wait until the lawn is showing signs of dehydration, then water deeply to ensure the water is reaching the deepest roots. This will encourage the roots to grow to deeper levels in order to reach the water, and it will ensure that the new weed seeds cannot access the water as it is too far down. Watering frequently on the other hand, will help to propagate new weed seeds.

The third rule is to ensure the lawn has enough good quality soil. If there is less than eight inches of top soil, then consider adding more. This can be done by putting a good layer of soil or compost on top of an established lawn. It will be muddy for a while, but within two weeks the grass will have grown through, and will now be enjoying the benefits of extra soil. If compost is used to top dress, there will be the added reward of natural fertilization, as compost contains many nutrients necessary for growing a healthy lawn.

Finally, to grow and encourage a healthy organic lawn, it is important to aerate in the spring. Aerating a lawn allows water and organic fertilizers to penetrate deeper, therefore accessing the roots. It also helps to loosen highly compacted soil, encouraging roots to grow. Furthermore, aerating helps to control thatch, which is a layer of decomposing grass stems and roots. If thatch is thick it can prevent water and air from getting to the lawn’s roots, and can harbour pests.

To review; it is important to cut the lawn at a high setting, to water deeply but less frequently, to top dress with organic compost, and to aerate every spring. There are also some very good organic fertilizers on the market which can be applied if compost isn’t used. When a lawn isn’t properly cared for it struggles and becomes weedy and brown, which may be discouraging for the owner, sometimes leading to chemical applications. However, if these organic lawn care steps are followed a thick green carpet will be maintained into the future.