Organic Lawn Care Guide
Organic lawn care has many benefits. Not only does it preserve precious natural resources, but it also saves the homeowner from costly monthly lawn maintenance costs. It explains why a majority of owners are now transforming their gardens into green yards. But, it takes more than making the shift to keep the garden looking healthy and beautiful. You need to take sufficient care of it using environment-friendly methods. Here are a few ideas of how you can go about it.
Be patient
Unless you have opted to install an artificial turf, it is prudent to be patient with your natural grass. Transitioning the garden from conventional to organic is a process that takes time, money and effort. That is because what you are essentially doing is initiating a new cultural practice. So, if you want to enjoy the benefits of having a green lawn, you should not be in a hurry to establish the yard.
Thicken the lawn
Garden areas that have thick grass are often healthy and lush green. That is because they have a deeper and wider root system that pulls water and essential nutrients from the soil. Moreover, they rarely have weeds since they do not give the weed seeds room to germinate. Bearing this in mind, an excellent organic lawn care solution, therefore, is to spread grass seed all over the lawn to thicken it. When shopping for the yard seed, look for the ones suitable to your climatic condition. It will make your work much easier.
Avoid using chemical based products
A notable hallmark of organic lawn care is the absence of chemical based products. That means you should refrain from using pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. These products contain harmful compounds that besides causing harm to the soil and ecology also pose health risks to those handling them. Studies reveal that most of the people who suffer from terminal illnesses, and birth related disorders, used chemical farming products at one time in their lives. Instead of risking your life or destroying the ecology, just avoid using the products. If you have renters with a pet, organic lawn care is a must; it could also act as a marketing point.
Use organic products
If you must use fertilizer in your garden, go for the organic based varieties. Alternatively, you can use compost. The good thing regarding compost is that it helps to increase the organic matter content in the soil. In fact, it can improve your garden’s nutrient content by up to seven percent, as well as your soil’s water retention ability. The manure is also easily available since you can create a compost pit for disposing of food remains and other suitable organic matter. Once your humus has decomposed, you can apply them to your lawn and spread them using a rake or a spreader.
Water Wisely
Part of organic lawn maintenance involves using water efficient gardening methods. It is worth noting that significant amount of water about forty to sixty percent gets consumed by lawns. However, by using organic lawn maintenance practices, you can make substantial savings on water. Start by selecting native plants that thrive in your kind of environment. Such flora is hardy and resistant to drought. Secondly, water your turf wisely. Do the watering early in the morning while the temperatures are still cool. It will help to reduce the evaporation rate and fungal infection. Installing Gilmour water timers will also insure that you are not overwatering your lawn, although every once in a while, you should water the grass deeply. It will force the grass roots to move deeper into the soil in search of moisture, hence becoming more drought resistant.
Mow the lawn correctly
Lawns that have short grass do not require a lot of watering or inputs for healthy growth. Furthermore, they form a lovely landscape. For that reason, make the effort of mowing your grass frequently. When mowing, ensure that the equipment you are using has a sharp blade to guarantee a smooth cut. A blunt blade will tear the grass leaves causing the turf to develop ugly brown stains. Similarly, ensure that you set the lawn mower’s blade to the level where it will cut as much grass as possible.
Leave the clippings
Once you cut the grass, do not bag up, blow off or move the clippings to the landfill. Instead, leave them on the lawn. They will decompose and add valuable organic humus to your soil. Consequently, you will not need to spend a lot of money on fertilizers and water. If you can, purchase a mulching blade for the mower. It will help you get fine clippings.