Organic lawn care
Americans love their lawns and as Americans we want them to be the best in the neighborhood and the greener, healthier, and lush the better. Guess what? You can have that lawn you’ve always wanted without wasting hours and weeks at a time. Never heard of that before? That’s right, an organic lawn is almost maintenance free! In addition to the lush feeling of carpet when you walk on it, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your family, pets, and beautiful wildlife are completely safe. Safe from artificial fertilizers and pesticides. On the following pages, I’ll show you some tips for caring for your lawn organically. You will learn what your lawn needs to be healthy, how organic fertilizers can be safely applied, and how mowing can keep your lawn free of weeds all season long. I can promise you that growing an organic lawn will be so easy and rewarding that you will want to show your friends how to do it.
If you listen to what many people say, they would have you believe that it is impossible to have a healthy and weed-free lawn without using chemicals. You will also find that by not using chemicals, maintenance will be easier and your effort will not be wasted.
When you stop adding synthetic fertilizers to your lawn, you will find that it doesn’t grow as fast. This, in turn, will allow you to mow less! Lawns that are grown organically will also have deeper roots that require less water, which means more money in your pocket, especially during the hot summer month. These grasses can withstand the harshest droughts because they have deep roots. If for some reason a problem arises, the solution is simple and safe.
When switching to an organic lawn, it is important to leave the old-school ways of lawn care. To get started, there are a few things you should stop right away.
Some lawn care professionals will tell you that aeration is a must for a healthy lawn. This process is known to break up and loosen compacted soil to stimulate root growth. This process is done in a number of ways. Some are known to wear pointe shoes, rental equipment, etc. This process opens up the soil to allow hydrogen peroxide and other vital nutrients to flow into the root zone. In most cases, aeration is not necessary. Compaction is the main reason for aerating, but most homeowners don’t have enough traffic to compact the soil for aeration to be relevant. Not even that, aeration can actually cause compaction by introducing increased airflow that wastes decomposing organic material that opens up the soil and keeps it loose. Aeration is helpful if you have a lawn made up of heavy clay. This is quite common on new home construction sites.
As we’ve all seen, synthetic fertilizers make our grass grow at a high speed, which leads to more mowing. Organic decomposers that we cannot see, such as earthworms, cannot keep up with the amount of grass that is deposited as organic matter. The end result is straw. (I’ll talk more about the straw in a moment.) We want our lawns to grow at the right time. Rapid growth is unhealthy and does not create strong roots that can withstand drought or invasion by foreign pests. It is not necessary to remove the thatch if your lawn is growing at a normal rate as mentioned above. Too much nitrogen from synthetic fertilizers causes your lawn to grow rapidly and produce stems, roots, and leaves faster than decomposers can eat. If you don’t know what straw is, get out there right now and grab a hand full of material just above the ground. The straw is the clippings and dead material that your lawn throws up. This should be no more than one inch thick. More than an inch will prevent air and water from reaching the ground. Destemming can be done in various ways. Some recommend using a brush cutter. Another traditional way to produce straw is to spray chemical pesticides. Pesticides kill important soil decomposers by eating straw.
Most people think that water is the key to a greener lawn. It is a very important key, but it can be just as damaging if it is terminated. Establishing new lawns is very important, but if your lawn is established, you need less than you think. When your lawn gets too watered, you will see it get soggy. Moisture prevents roots from obtaining the nutrients they need and instigates growth diseases. The best way to make sure your lawn has the correct amount of grass is to make sure the roots are moist enough. The best way to encourage this is by creating a strong hummus content. Unfortunately, hummus doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Humus is the leftover organic material that cannot be used by microorganisms or plants, so it becomes a large sponge that contains 90% of its weight in water. That’s why when other non-humus soils dry out, the humus soil will still be moist weeks later.
Mowing the grass too short? Stop now! A burnt brown lawn is a clear sign that the lawn has been cut too far. Why did this happened? Well, every time you mow it causes temporary stress. The grass stops growing for a short period of time, but it also begins a rejuvenation process. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way. I remember mowing my lawn only on Saturday. It didn’t matter if it was necessary or not. I would turn on my trusty lawnmower, lower the blade, and mow. I had rocks and other debris flying everywhere while leaving a cloud of dust behind me. Finally, after hot summers came for a couple of years with little rain, I inherited a dirt lawn. There were some patches of grass, but mostly weeds and dirt. That’s when I went back to seeding and learned that cutting tall grass is the best way to help your lawn recover from the stress of mowing. Your organic grass will grow best when your blade is in its highest position. This will give your lawn an increased surface area that will allow it to absorb more sun producing stronger root growth. Leading to better drought tolerance and faster recovery from lethargy. The higher the grass, the less weeds you will see. Tall grass will always triumph over weeds and retain moisture by casting a shadow on the ground to stop water loss through evaporation.
Believe it or not, grass clippings will help your new lawn. Actually, your new organic lawn will need them. I know I said that trimming causes thatch, but this is when the most nitrogen is being introduced into the grass. Without the synthetic lawn fertilizers that are voluntarily disposed of, the straw will be minimal. Clippings will break down sending fresh nitrogen and other major nutrients into the soil to help your lawn grow and become healthier and greener than you ever thought possible. Many don’t know, but trimming adds about 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen to the soil for every 1,000 square feet of soil. Mowing the lawn to the proper height will hide these clippings rather than leaving them on top of the lawn for all to see. See how organic lawns save you time and money. Keep baggers and rakes in the shed and there is no reason to buy nitrogenous fertilizers at local stores.
So now that you have the knowledge to start an organic lawn, don’t hesitate. Your lawn can now be a place to relax and unwind, in addition to worrying about it and making it stressful. Spend more time doing what you want and spending more time with the family. Organic grass will be more rewarding than you might think.
