Your lawn isn't just your pride and joy. It’s a lush habitat for beneficial insects, earthworms, birds, and other animals, plus an expansive playground for you and your family, cherished pets, and neighborhood kids. Switching to organic lawn care products will help you maintain a healthy lawn while keeping your family safe from the dangers of chemical pesticides and weed killers. Here’s a checklist to help you maintain your lawn organically throughout the year.
- Grass grows best in soil that is slightly alkaline, with reading on the pH scale of about 6.5 to 7. You can buy pH test kits at your local garden center or home improvement store.
- If your pH test reveals a reading that is below 6.5, you will want to spread a layer of garden lime over your entire lawn using a spreader. If the reading is above 7, you should spread a layer of elemental sulfur.
- Use a balanced, organic fertilizer twice a year for best results. Apply the first application when the grass starts greening up in the spring. Apply the second application in early fall. To avoid burning your grass, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and consider using a slow-release fertilizer.
- A ½ inch layer of compost spread across your whole lawn is like an instant boost of energy for healthy growth. You can apply homemade or store-bought compost in conjunction with your organic fertilizer application.
- If you have a few weeds in your lawn, take heart. They actually add a bit of biodiversity to an otherwise stagnant habitat. If weeds are plentiful, killing your grass, or starting to take over, an organic weed-killer should do the trick. These organic lawn care products are safe for humans and pets, and only kill broad-leaved plants, leaving your lush lawn behind.
- If you've got bare dirt in your lawn, gently loosen the soil with a rake and plant a thick layer of perennial grass seed. Cover this with some compost and keep the area moist. In a matter of days you will have tiny sprouts. In a few weeks, your bare spots will have disappeared.
- Watering your lawn too much will actually inhibit healthy growth by acting as a crutch for your lawn. Only water during dry spells, and be sure to water deeply to penetrate the root tips.
- Many critters can live happily in your lawn without causing damage. There are also plenty of nuisance pets that love lawns, and a few can wreak havoc if not controlled. If you suspect that insects are damaging your lawn, be proactive.
- Plant and garden experts will help you with pest identification.
- Plant and garden experts will help you with pest identification.
- Okay, not too high, but you don’t want to go shorter than two inches. Mowing too short will encourage your grass to use up nutrient reserves to replenish growth.
- Grass clippings left on the lawn will provide nutrients for your grass and shade for the delicate roots just below the surface.
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Organic lawn care products Tips
- Do not apply pesticides or herbicides on a hot, rainy, or windy day.
- Always read the labels and follow instructions when using pesticides and herbicides. Just because they are organic, does not make them 100% safe. Many organic products can damage plants or harm people if they are used incorrectly.
- Plant grass seed in the late spring or early fall for optimal growing conditions.
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