Water Deeply Less Frequently
Your lawns root system is about as deep as the length of the grass. Taller grass indicates a deeper, stronger root system, which helps keep away pests and weeds. And watering less frequently actually encourages a deep, strong root system.
Generally, your lawn needs about an inch of water every week. Depending on your soil type, it could be a little more or less. One rule of thumb is to water to a depth of about 6.
Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation and allow grass dry out, which helps prevent diseases from setting in. In the heat of summer or during drought conditions, consider letting your lawn go dormant to conserve water.
The Best Way To Water Your Lawn When Caring For It Organically
When growing an organic lawn, it is best to water your lawn deeply and only when the soil needs it. Thorough, intensive watering ensures that turfgrass roots get well-nourished. You should water your lawn only as often as the grass needs watering.
One of the mistakes that gardeners make is to water grass on a schedule or daily. Frequent, shallow watering encourages weeds to grow. These unwanted plants end up choking out grass and spoil the appearance of your lawn.
When it comes to organic lawn irrigation, remember that the roots of weeds are shallower than grass roots. So, allowing the top layer of soil to dry and then giving your lawn infrequent, but thorough watering is a natural weed-prevention tip for organic lawns. Ideally, you should wait until the top 6 of soil is dry before watering.
How do you know when youve watered your lawn enough? Put a few measuring cups on your lawn and turn on your sprinkler. When the level of water reaches an inch, your lawn should be adequately irrigated. As a general rule, 1 of water in a measuring cup is required to water lawns to a depth of 6 .
Your Lawns Ecosystem Will Revitalize
Your lawns ecosystem is fragile, but it is stronger than you think nonetheless. Nature has a strength and power of its own, and the chemicals in synthetic chemically-based lawn care are not good for the environment or the natural balance of your lawn. You need a certain amount of insects and other life to keep your lawn healthy. The ecosystem will restore itself to a much more natural beauty as a result of organic care.
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An Organic Lawn Fertilizer For All Seasons
Using organic lawn fertilizer offers your lawn an organic source of nitrogen and other micronutrients. However, the nutrient content can vary greatly depending on the type of organic matter used. You should always read the nutrient analysis to ensure it has the required nutrients to meet your grass’ needs for that time of year. If the nutrient analysis is insufficient for your lawns needs, you can choose another type or you may need to supplement your lawn with an application of an inorganic or synthetic organic fertilizer.
Organic lawn Fertilizer that is high in organic matter, but low in N-P-K, can be applied in much heavier amounts. These varieties are usually labeled as summer fertilizers that typically deliver slow release forms of organic nitrogen. Summer fertilizers are extremely helpful in feeding the immense microbe populations. For most grass types, the lower nutrient content of summer organics makes it difficult to over-fertilize, even at the higher rates.
Organic lawn fertilizer developed for spring applications will often have the lowest organic matter content. A portion of the available nitrogen will be in another form. This is because most soil microbes are still inactive in early spring. Some companies offer early spring fertilizers with a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds from germinating.
Will A 100% Organic Lawn Care Program Get You The Lawn You Want
There are all sorts of organic remedies for controlling weeds and insects. The problem is, that these methods either provide minimal results or have other unwanted side effects for your lawn.
Milky Spore bacteria may control Japanese Beetle grubs that come in contact with them, but youd have to have a grub infestation for a number of years to spread it around in the soil. Plus it only works on Japanese Beetle grubs, which arent the only lawn grub out there. Likewise, vinegar may control that patch of troublesome clover in your lawn, but your grass also wont grow back for quite some time.
Organic fertilizers will do a good job of providing nutrition to your lawn to make it greener and thicker, but they wont address allthe problems with your lawns soil.
Truly organic lawn care programs are better than doing nothing at all for your lawn, but they simply wont deliver the results most people seek.
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The Rise Of Synthetics
Following WWII, synthetic fertilizers created from natural gas surged into agricultural use. They increased crop yields and fed billions. Their use expanded to home lawn and garden care. With manufacturer encouragement, conventional lawn care in the United States became a series of cyclical chemical applications.
But that has created problems. Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from fertilizers, particularly in their fast-release form, have caused such environmental damage that 25 states have limited fertilizer use. And on an individual lawn level, synthetic fertilizers work against natural soil health.
Whacking Weeds And Pests
We’re not gonna lie to you. Making the transition to organic lawn care might mean dealing with some weeds. At least for the first year or two as your soil and grass gain enough strength to control them naturally.
One thing you can do to prevent weeds is spread corn gluten meal-an organic weed preventative-on your lawn in the spring. Just don’t do it when you’re overseeding, since it prevents germination of all seeds, including grass. While corn gluten meal works only 65 percent as well as chemical herbicides, it can still significantly reduce weed infestations.
If a few isolated weeds show up, pull them by hand or try an organic weed killer, such as Nature’s Avenger, a spray containing citrus oil, which dehydrates weeds down to the roots. Some gardeners swear by vinegar to do the same.
Weeds can be helpful indicators of specific problems with your soil, however. Got crabgrass? It can point to soil compaction, since it usually appears in highly trafficked areas, such as along driveways or walkways. Instead of zapping it with pesticides, get to the root of the problem by aerating the area where it’s growing. “You can kill the messenger all day long,” says Turkey, “but it doesn’t change the message that something is wrong with your soil.”
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Advantages Of Organic Lawn Care
Everyone loves a lush green lawn, and not only our neighbors, but ourselves. A healthy lawn improves the value of your property and your neighborhood and is a beautiful thing to behold. However, not all lawncare created equally, and many people are under the misconception that using pesticides and chemicals is the key to a beautiful lawn. In reality, the opposite turns out to be true. Organic lawn care is a much more effective and sustainable method of getting the lawn that you are after.
What Is Organic Care
Organic care is a method of taking care of your lawn that does not involve the use of pesticides or chemicals to maintain it. Instead of harmful chemicals and pesticides, organic compounds are used to control weeds and fertilize your lawn. There are a number of advantages to using these methods. The alternative to this type of lawn care is synthetic chemical-based lawn care, which relies on the use of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers.
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History Of Organic Lawn Care
When it comes to synthetic fertilizers, People are beginning to question what theyre putting down, why theyre putting it down, and now we have alternatives, says Charles Chip Osborne, Jr., President of Osborne Organics of Marblehead, Mass., and founder of the Organic Landscape Association. As far as synthetics go, I dont need them. We can grow without them.
Questions To Ask If You Are Considering Hiring A Professional Organic Lawn Care Landscaper
When looking to hire an organic lawn care company ask about their approach and practices, especially regarding fertilization and pest management.Some questions and answers include:
How does your company prevent crabgrass and manage other weed problems?
The emphasis should be on cultural practices that keep your lawn thick and healthy, planting a lawn alternative where grass doesn’t grow, and knowledge about the pluses and minuses of organic herbicides.
At what mowing height will my lawn be mowed?
Lawns should be mowed on a regular basis during the growing season and maintained at 3-4 inches. During the hottest, driest part of the summer when cool-season grass is dormant it should not be mowed until they begin to regrow.
When would you apply insecticides or fungicides? Which ones would you use?
Routine use of lawn insecticides and fungicides should not be part of an organic lawn care program. Fescue lawns that are fertilized, mowed, and overseeded according to University of Maryland recommendations have few pest problems.
Will you do a soil test?
A soil test should be part of any lawn management program . Proper pH and soil fertility play a large part in achieving a healthy lawn.
What kinds of organic fertilizer will be applied? How often and in what amounts?
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You Can Save Money Using Organic Care Methods
Organic care methods are traditionally much less expensive than synthetic chemically-based lawn care pesticides and chemicals. You will save money, and you may save time as well, although in some cases, using organic care methods may require a little bit of extra effort. The money you save and all of the many other benefits you get are well worth it. Some people actually save time using organic care methods as well.
Why You Should Consider Organic Lawn Care
When we think of organic food, the purported benefits include your healthits healthier to eat and the planets healthits healthier to grow and produce. Obviously, you wont be eating your turf, so were left with only the second reasonits better for the planet. But youre not just doing a favor to your Mother Earth. Organic lawn care has plenty of benefits. Some of them are immediate, and some are about the environment. Here are a few.
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What Are The Health Risks Associated With Lawn Care Chemicals
Scientific studies have found numerous negative health consequences associated with the synthetic chemicals found in traditional lawn care products. A report by the National Academy of Sciences shows that the health of 1 in 7 people is negatively impacted in some form by lawn pesticides Numerous studies link lawn chemicals to cancers and other long-term diseases Several studies also link exposure to artificial lawn chemicals to an increased risk of cancer and other health problems in pets. Children are especially at risk for negative health consequences due to their size, physiological development and proximity to the ground. Studies from Yale University, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and several others point to children’s health risks associated with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Improve Your Soil Quality
If the soil is too acidic , add organic options like wood ash to your soil. It may take several applications over a few years to take effect, but it will put your roots on a track to becoming healthier.
If the soil is too basic , add sphagnum peat to your lawn. Just be aware that it may require some tilling to fully incorporate the sphagnum peat into the soil and for it to take effect. Another option is to add fine mulch and compost to your lawn.
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The Principle Behind Organic Lawn Care
Organic lawn care isnt just a method. Its a way of thinking about lawn care. Traditional lawn care often focuses on what you can see. Do you see weeds? Apply a selective herbicide. Do you expect to see weeds? Apply a preemergent herbicide. Do you want a bright green vigorous lawn? Apply a chemical fertilizer. Theres nothing wrong with that approach, and it definitely gets results if you do it right. But there is another way of thinking about lawn care that uses fewer chemicals or even no chemicals and still provides a lawn you can be proud of.
The principle behind organic lawn care is that its all about what you cant see, namely the soil. Healthy soil grows healthy turf. Soil, of course, is much more than just dirt. Healthy soil is a living entity. It is full of organic matter and plants and animals, from microscopic bacteria and protozoa to fungi and earthworms. Healthy soil is just teeming with life, and encouraging the right sorts of organisms to flourish in your soil is the best way to keep your grass healthy.
To keep your living soil as happy and healthy as possible, organic lawn care practices attempt to feed and care for the soil just as much as they feed the grass. To do that, organic lawn care uses a variety of tools and methods, including composting, aeration, topdressing, and overseeding.
Reduce Pollution Of Water And Soil
Synthetic chemically-based lawn care will pollute the water and soil in the environment over time and may affect the drinking water in some areas. This can easily be avoided by using organic-based lawn care techniques, methods, and compounds. No one wants to drink polluted water or have their family or loved ones drink it either. If you want to reduce the pollution in your environment and in your neighborhood, organic care is one step to take that you wont regret.
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Organic Lawn Care: How To Maintain Your Lawn Naturally
Organic lawn care involves using natural lawn fertilizers, proper mowing techniques, and organic weed killers. Organic lawn fertilizers have many benefits: they improve soil structure, nourish turfgrass roots, and help grass become resistant to pests.
The best organic lawn fertilizers contain natural ingredients such as plant extracts, seaweed, and bone meal. These non-toxic substances provide nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for healthy, robust grass growth.
Getting a lush, green lawn naturally without using harmful chemicals and pesticides is not difficult.
This article is a complete guide to organic lawn care. As well as learning about tips and tricks to keep grass lush and green without synthetic chemicals, youll find out about the best organic lawn fertilizers.
What Our Customers Say
Daniel is always courteous and always friendly. Yesterday we spoke at length about the new grass added to replace the frozen tundra left from the BIG FREEZE! He offered some helpful hints and cautioned me to watch for bugs. We spoke about dove weed and what currently can and cannot be done. I highly recommend Daniel as a service consultant.Honestly, all the folks whom have been to my yard over the years have
I would like to take a moment and give you my opinion of your crew. I think you have the greatest guys working for you. They are very well mannered and very informative. They always say thank you and ma’am. Being an old southern gal, that means a lot to me. Also, they are very informative. They take the time to explain the process and limitations for treating my centipede. After they
I began using NaturaLawn of America back in the early spring , shortly after buying a new home. The house was a ‘flip’ and the yard had been ignored and was my biggest challenge. Needless to say I needed the help of an expert. Before any work was done or money exchanged, I had walked my property, pointed out my concerns, and generally had a good Q& A with NLA. Since then , I
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How To Save Water And Maintain A Healthy Lawn
The EPA estimates that watering lawns accounts for anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of water consumption during the summer in the U.S. When responsible irrigation practices are overlooked, overwatering can occur, drowning grass roots, inviting weeds and promoting lawn fungus growth.
A general rule of thumb is to water deeply, less often and during a cool time of day. When watering, the moisture needs to access the roots to be effective. That means you should remove excess layers of thatch, which is dead grass buildup on the top of the soil bed, before watering. Too much thatch will prevent water from reaching the roots.
Water during the cooler parts of the day like at night or early in the morning. Watering at noon on a hot summer day will not only evaporate water coming from your sprinklers, but it encourages fungal growth and shallow root systems, which can make a lawn more susceptible to disease. Watering at cooler parts of the day gives water a chance to soak into the roots, meaning less water is used and a lower water bill.
Inspect your sprinkler system. Ensure the sprinkler heads aren’t clogged or broken and that they’re pointed in an effective direction. According to the EPA, even very small leaks can waste 6,300 gallons of water per month.
Finally, cut your grass at a taller height. Taller grasses promote longer roots, and longer roots can thrive with less watering.
What Is Organic Lawn Care In Cincinnati
Organic lawn care programs seem like they should be simply defined but there still remains a lot of confusion around the topic. What one lawn care company calls their “organic” program looks much different than their competitor. To add to the confusion, some lawn care companies mislead customers with false claims, leaving the whole term of organic lawn care subjective.
An organic lawn care program, by definition, uses only 100% organic fertilizers and organic control materials for weeds and insects.
Some traditional companies offer an organic option to a segment of their customers while a few others take this approach exclusively. Companies that truly take this approach are very hard to find.
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