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A Homeowner's Guide to Organic Lawn Care
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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 |
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Organic Lawn Care Tips 1. Add organic matter to your lawn to build the soil -- or spread an inch of compost in the fall, and water it in.2. Get after weed problems early. It's easier (and less time consuming) to control a few young weeds than it is to wage war on many large, seed-producing monsters. 3. Increasing the organic matter in your lawn by as little as 5% will quadruple the soil's ability to hold water. 4. Use an organic, slow-release fertilizer to feed your lawn and the soil. These materials break down slowly, feeding your grass over a longer period of time. 5. Spread crocus throughout your lawn to add an early splash of color. By the time the grass needs to be cut, they will have died-back for the year. 6. Be persistent with dandelions. By repeatedly removing their leaves and flowers, you will keep seeds from spreading and eventually starve the taproot, which kills the weed. Google "Dandelion Terminator" to make the job easy! 7. Not only are reel mowers quiet and start when you do, they're cutting action snips the grass, like a pair of scissors. Rotary mowers tear at turf, leaving it bruised and open for disease. 8. Aerate your lawn every couple of years to eliminate thatch and to allow air, nutrients, and water to penetrate deep into the root zone. 9. To promote deep roots and a healthier lawn water longer, but less often. After watering, use a garden trowel to check soil moisture. If it isn't wet 4 to 6 inches down -- keep watering! 10. While some weed control is necessary, don't "freak out" over a few weeds. Having a weed-free yard is pretty much impossible and not really desirable for a healthy lawn. 11. Thatch will not form from grass cuttings. Instead, the clippings will attract earthworms, which break down thatch, aerate the soil, and reduce compaction. 12. Do what you can to keep weeds from going to seed. If you can cut down on the number of weed seeds in your yard, you've won half the battle. 13. To crowd out weeds, reduce watering, and improve the overall appearance of your lawn raise the height of your mower to 2-1/2 inches (Southern states) or 3-1/2 inches high (Northern states). 14. After watering, use a garden trowel to check the soil moisture. It should be wet at least 4-inches down to promote deep roots and a healthier lawn. 15. Keep your mower blade sharp. This will not only make mowing easier, it will reduce tearing the blades of grass, which can promote lawn diseases. 16. Less than 2% of the insects found in your backyard are pests. Most are considered beneficial. 17. Corn gluten meal is natures weed & feed! It prevents many weed seeds from germinating and benefits grasses by adding valuable nitrogen to the soil. 18. A large part of the food that your lawn needs can be supplied by leaving your grass clippings on the lawn -- mulch those grass clippings. 19. If possible, do not mow when the lawn is wet. The result will be a very uneven cut. 20. Even in the best of soils, chemical lawn fertilizers can kill soil microbes, repel earthworms, and ruin soil structure. 21. Keep your lawn mowed high and mulch your lawn clippings to prevent most crabgrass seed from germinating. A healthy application of corn gluten meal applied in the spring, will also help. 22. Select grass varieties for your growing area. Talk to your local nursery or jump online and ask questions at a garden forum to learn what works best. 23. Most lawns need about 1-inch of water per week to thrive. Water in the morning to prevent disease. 24. Clover in the lawn is NOT all bad. It is drought tolerant, stays green, fixes nitrogen from the air (which helps feed grasses) and earthworms love it. 25. Get rid of the grubs living in your lawn and you'll get rid of the moles that are feeding on them. |
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