Everyone deserves a lovely lawn. But wouldn’t that be better if you could do that without posing a serious threat to the environment? And if you could save some money in the process!
Check out this quick step by step guide to organic lawn care.
1. Ready the soil
Don’t just feed the plants. The soil needs good nutrition. The organisms in the ground are necessary. They must be able to breathe, eat, and excrete. Any toxic can be catastrophic for your lawn. Choose organic fertilizers over chemical fertilizers. Keep your soil healthy. That way your garden will look much better.
2. Get your soil tested
Don’t just add fertilizers and nutrients to the ground just because your neighbor is doing it. Find out which nutrient is lacking in the field. You can get diagnostic results from cooperative extension office in your city. Or get your soil tested individually. Don’t worry! You will end up cutting a lot more than you spend as you will use only those nutrients that your soil needs. Your lawn will be healthier.
3. Choose the right grass for your lawn
It may look similar, but there are many varieties of grass. Some grow longer. Some need more sunlight than others. Some need a particular kind of soil. Some need to mowing more often. Better hire a lawn care professional to advise you on the right kind of grass for your lawn.
4. Seed vs. Sod
Putting the sod is almost ten times costlier than growing the grass using seed. But sod requires less amount of water and has a better success rate. If you can afford it, rather go for sod. That would give you a beautiful lawn almost instantly.
5. Conserve water
Follow these simple tips while watering the garden. Water in the morning. Water infrequently and deeply. Grow the right plants.
6. Mow your lawn the right way
Do you know that mowing contributes to air pollution in summer? It’s serious. You can prevent air pollution and get a healthier lawn with proper lawn mowing techniques. Make sure you don’t cut more than 1/3rd of grass. Keep the mower blades sharp. Use electric mower to cut down on pollution.
7. Go easy on insects
Don’t try to kill all the insects and pests in your lawn. A lot of them are, in fact, right for your lawn’s health. Mostly, the chemicals you use to kill them are even more dangerous. In case, your lawn care advisor does suggest getting rid of insects, read the next point.
8. Say no to harmful pesticides
Pesticides can be tricky. A lot of them pose a severe health risk to your kids and pets. Use organic pesticides. Read the label correctly to find out the health risks associated with the utilization of the product. Be safe.
9. Use natural fertilizers
Synthetic fertilizers are a big no-no. Use compost for fertilization. Never throw away your kitchen and yard waste. Most of the times, they’re adequate fertilizers for your lawn.
10. Create air pockets in soil
To cut down the need for fertilizers and pesticides, use a mechanical or hand tool to cut cores out of the ground. It will create air pockets. It allows the soil to breathe. Never let the ground stay compacted. Use of natural fertilizers does this job automatically.
11. Grow more grass to tackle bare spots
Plant some seeds as soon as you see bare spots. Cover them with compost. Allow the seed to germinate. Why is it necessary, especially when it’s off season? It is highly likely that weeds will cover those bare spots. Cover them manually with seeds to avoid weed growth. Less weed means the less need for chemicals to tackle them.
Being careful and choosing the less harmful alternatives for lawn care can be highly effective. Just a couple of more minutes spent on research about organic lawn irrigation and care methods are a great deal.
But the question is would you do that for your environment and your descendants? Comment!
