Organic Lawn Care: How to Maintain Your Lawn Naturally
Did you know that it is possible to provide your lawn with what it needs to thrive and be healthy without the use of pesticides, insecticides, and other chemicals?
Organic lawn care is sustainable and green. Literally. It involves the use of alternative solutions for your lawn that are natural and environmentally friendly, yielding luscious green grass. What’s more, it creates a safe space for your entire family (including your pets) to get full enjoyment of your home’s outdoor areas.
Let’s talk about what it takes to make the switch to a healthy, pesticide-free lawn.
Nutrients: The Key to a Green Lawn
A good first step in implementing organic lawn care is to leave the grass clippings behind when you mow. Although it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing lawn care tip, your grass will thank you. These clippings contain nutrients that can be reabsorbed by your lawn if given the opportunity, helping it to blossom.
Without some extra protection from a natural fertilizer, rough periods of heat and stress can lead to its demise, regardless of how many nutritious clippings are left behind.
Take the proactive step to add fertilizer to your lawn that contains ingredients such as:
- Composted turkey and chicken litter
- Seaweed
- Kelp
- Fish emulsion
- Rock phosphate
- Blood meal
- Cottonseed meal
- Azomite
- Ironite
Each has its own contribution and complements one another on the way to creating a lawn that is healthy with a rich green color. For example, the composted litter will increase microbial activity within the soil and help it break down the thatch that’s been left behind. This will allow the nutrients to be absorbed faster.
Azomite and ironite provide micronutrients that give the lawn a burst of color.
Fish emulsion and kelp enhance nitrogen uptake and reduce the impacts of stress. And, blood meal adds slow-release nitrogen whereas cottonseed meal and rock phosphate add phosphorus without harming the environment.
You can seek out a store-bought organic fertilizer option that contains some or all of these things, or create your own so that you know exactly what you are putting on your lawn. Either way, using the right natural fertilizer as part of your organic lawn care can give you fantastic results.
Controlling Weeds Naturally
Unfortunately, as your grass grows, so do weeds. It is best to address these right away before they get out of control and invade the entire yard or threaten any plants. After all, they may be stealing the nutrients from your lawn!
To stick with a natural, organic lawn care routine, you can dismiss weeds by spraying them with vinegar or a combination of vinegar and dish soap. Of course, pulling them is also an effective option, as long as you are careful to pull the root along with it so that they don’t continue to grow.
Getting Rid Bugs and Other Pests Without Insecticide
Bugs and insects love to nestle in your lawn and call it home. And, if allowed, they will continue to grow and expand in population until they are taking up large areas (if not all) of your grass. While you may not want to harm them, you don’t have to give them a free place to stay — especially since they can cause damage to your lawn.
There are natural, eco-friendly steps you can take to deter bugs and other pests from sticking around. For instance, spraying your yard with a batch of water and essential oils can cause the bugs to move out. A few oils to consider for organic lawn care include:
- Rosemary
- Cedarwood oil
- Lemongrass oil
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Orange oils
Remember, caring for your lawn naturally is going to require patience. You may have to try a few different oils or a combination to find the right fit for your lawn.
Watering Regularly
Routine lawn care requires water. Yet, organic lawn care means seeking ways to maintain the lawn with as little waste as possible. And this means not using water when you don’t have to.
Monitoring the weather is a great way to know when you don’t have to water your lawn. However, if you reside in certain areas of Arizona, for example, precipitation is low, and rainy days are rare.
Make the most of your efforts by choosing to water your lawn at night. This will reduce the chance of evaporation and allow the ground to soak up most of the water. If you use an irrigation system, set your sprinklers on a timer so that you always water the lawn at the right time and the right duration.
Want to Learn More About Organic Lawn Care?
At Evergreen Turf, we know that good, organic lawn care starts with investing in the right sod.
Contact us online or call us today to learn more.