 |
A Homeowner's Guide to Organic Lawn Care
|
 |
|
ORGANIC LAWN CARE Why Organic? High Cost of Synthetic Pesticides Effect on Humans and Pets Environmental Concerns How They Damage Your Lawn Organic Overview Healthy Soil Appropriate Plantings Thick, Deep-Rooted Grass Regular Maintenance Lowdown on Lawn History The New World: Golf & Games Parks and Suburbs Communism and Crabgrass Know Your Lawn Soil Water Grass Lawn Rehab (Planning) Starting Off Right The Future (What You Want) The Present (What You've Got) Lawn Rehab (Practice) Thatch Weeds Compaction Soil Amendments Overseeding Fertilizing Regular Maintenance Mowing Watering Weeding Seasonal Maintenance Whacking Weeds Aerate the Soil Trashing Thatch Amend the Soil Keep It Green: Fertilize Pets, Pests & Problems Dogs and the Perfect Lawn Pest Control: Guidelines Bugs & Thugs Moles Weed Control Diseases Alternatives to Grass Ornamental Grasses Shade Lovers Sun Lovers Low Water Ground Covers Under Pines -- Acid-Tolerant Starting a Lawn Grass Types & Methods Preparing the Site Preparing the Soil Planting Caring for New Lawns Switching from NitroLawn To Do List: Any Time of Year To Do List: Fall/Early Spring Using a Lawn Care Company Sites & Sources Books & Articles Websites  This site is brought to you by www.PlanetNatural.com |
 |
|
 |
Glossary Acidic Soil: Soil with a pH between 0 and 7.0. To raise soil pH add lime.Aeration: Any method of loosening the soil to allow air to circulate. Alkaline Soil: Soil with a pH between 7.0 and 14. To lower soil pH add sulfur. Annual: A plant whose life cycle lasts only one growing season, from seed to blooms to seed. Beneficial Insect: An insect that attacks lawn/garden pests by eating or laying its eggs in them, thereby controlling their population. Biodegradable: Capable of being broken down into simpler compounds by microorganisms. Organic materials are biodegradable. Biological Pest Control: Using living organisms (beneficial insects, bacteria) to destroy insect pests. Bio-Solids: The nutrient-rich organic materials left over from the treatment of sewage sludge. Often found in commercial compost and may contain concentrations of heavy metals. Botanical Insecticide: Derived from plants, these organic pesticides provide a quick "knock down" to a large number of pests. They leave no residues and breakdown quickly in the environment. Chlorophyll: The green pigment in leaves. When a plant is healthy it is very prominent. Chlorosis: Yellowing of the leaves caused by a nutrient deficiency, lack of light, too much light, or high temperatures. Compost: The rich organic material that results from the process of decomposition of plant and animal waste. Cultivate: To promote, improve or begin plant growth by labor and attention. Cultural Control: The practice of modifying a growing environment to reduce the prevalence of pests. Examples include changing irrigation methods or selecting resistant plants. Fertilizer: An organic or inorganic material that is applied to the soil or a plant to improve its' nutrient content. Foliar Fertilizing: A technique of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer directly to plant leaves. Fungal Disease: A large group of fungi that attack plants. Affected plants often show signs of wilting, scabs, mold, rotted tissue, rusts and blotches. Fungicides: Compounds used to prevent the spread of fungi in lawns/gardens, which can cause serious damage to plants. Germinate: The process of a seedling sprouting from a seed. Grasscycling: Leaving grass clippings on the lawn when mowing to return nutrients back to the soil. Grub: The larval form of some beetles. Heavy Soil: A soil that contains a high proportion of clay and is poorly drained. Humus: The result of organic material being decomposed into a dark soil-like material that contains plant nutrients. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): An insect control strategy in which least-toxic methods are applied first and usually in combination with other methods. Loam: Fertile soil, usually easy to work, with equal proportions of silt, sand and clay and with a large amount of humus. Macronutrients: The major elements essential for plant growth. See N-P-K below. Micro-Nutrients: The nutrients that are required by plants in small amounts. These include boron, copper, zinc, and others. N-P-K: Abbreviations for the primary nutrients necessary for plant growth (Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Expressed as numbers on a fertilizer label. Organic: Refers to something derived from living organisms and is made up of carbon-based compounds. It is also a general term used for a type of gardening using no chemical or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Organic Lawn Care: Maintaining a healthy, attractive lawn without the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers. Perennial: A plant with a life cycle of more than two years. Pest: Any organism considered detrimental to a living plant. pH: Indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The pH scale reads from 0 to 14, 0 indicates extreme acidic soil and 14 extreme alkaline soil. A pH of 7 is neutral. Photosynthesis: The process in plants by which carbohydrates are produced from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Rhizome: A fleshy underground stem or runner. Creeping grasses spread by rhizomes. Soil Amendment: Any material added to the soil to improve its quality, such as drainage, aeration, structure and water retention. Soil Test: A measurement of pH and nutrients in the soil. Thatch: A layer of dead turfgrass that builds up on the soil surface, reducing water and nutrient penetration. Tilth: Describes the general health of the soil. Soil that is healthy and has good physical qualities is said to be in good tilth. Weed: A plant that is growing where you don't want it to grow. Xeriscaping: To create a low maintenance landscape using native plants and small or non-existent areas of turf grass. One of the goals of xeriscaping is to reduce water use. |
|
|
||
|
A division of Sparky Boy Enterprises Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. |
||