Organic Lawn Care
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Organic Lawn Care!
Go organic is something we hear alot these days. But have you considered it with respect to that (hopefully) green lawn outside your door? Organic lawn care--without the application of chemical pesticides and herbicides--can provide you with a lush, healthy lawn, without damaging the environment.
Overall, it's a lot easier than you might think. There are, of course, a few tricks to it. And there are lots of resources available to help you. Of course, if you don't care what's growing in your lawn, then the whole organic thing is easy. Just mow it regularly. The rest of us, however, will do some seeding, amending the soil, etc.
The following is very useful: handweeding, amending the soil (with some compost or, if needed, some topsoil), and using corn gluten products for weed control in the spring, and overseeding and fertilizing in the fall.PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Nuttakit. Nuttakit photos are available at nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net View Nuttakit's portfolio at http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1556
The Very Basics
1. Plant a suitable grass seed (sunny? shady? dry? wet?)
2. Do not overwater--a deep soak once a week is better than a daily sprinkling. The deep soak will encourage deeper roots and stronger plants.
3. Feed your lawn with organic products. Leave your lawn clippings. Amend the soil with compost.
4. Use organic labeled products such as corn gluten (a pre-emergent used in the spring--before the spring weeds come out--but not in conjunction with sowing grass seed--it will keep the grass seed from sprouting, along with weeds). There are lots of organic labeled products available, even safe sprays for the stuff growing in the cracks in your sidewalk!
5. Consider handweeding. It's a useful means of control for violets, wild strawberries, and even chickweed. Be sure to overseed any bare spots you leave. This is a great activity while your kids and/or pets play in the yard, or for quietly communing with nature when alone.
7. Don't mow too short! Find out the optimal height for your grass and set your mower accordingly.
8. Have your soil tested--every year before feeding, fertilizing, etc., is a good time so you know how to best feed and/or amend your soil. Soil testing is also a smart move anytime you are having significant lawn problems, too (overrun with weeds? bare patches, etc.). Check out your local Cooperative Extension System office for soil testing and other great services (see the link, below).
2. Do not overwater--a deep soak once a week is better than a daily sprinkling. The deep soak will encourage deeper roots and stronger plants.
3. Feed your lawn with organic products. Leave your lawn clippings. Amend the soil with compost.
4. Use organic labeled products such as corn gluten (a pre-emergent used in the spring--before the spring weeds come out--but not in conjunction with sowing grass seed--it will keep the grass seed from sprouting, along with weeds). There are lots of organic labeled products available, even safe sprays for the stuff growing in the cracks in your sidewalk!
5. Consider handweeding. It's a useful means of control for violets, wild strawberries, and even chickweed. Be sure to overseed any bare spots you leave. This is a great activity while your kids and/or pets play in the yard, or for quietly communing with nature when alone.
7. Don't mow too short! Find out the optimal height for your grass and set your mower accordingly.
8. Have your soil tested--every year before feeding, fertilizing, etc., is a good time so you know how to best feed and/or amend your soil. Soil testing is also a smart move anytime you are having significant lawn problems, too (overrun with weeds? bare patches, etc.). Check out your local Cooperative Extension System office for soil testing and other great services (see the link, below).
Free Expert Advice is Available to Everyone!
The Cooperative Extension Service is Waiting to Help You!
- Cooperative Extension System
- The Cooperative Extension System offices in every state, staffed by one or more experts who who can provide you with useful, practical information about lawn care, as well as a wide range of other topics. Contact them for soil test kits (there is a small fee for the testing), advice on the best seed for your area, and any other lawn and garden questions you may have.
Some Books to Get You Started
Organic Lawn Care Information
- Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
- This is a great group. Their website's Publications & Information section includes good information on organic lawn care. They lay it all out for you. Straightforward and easy to read, if you don't find what you need on their website, you can always e-mail the group with your question(s).
- richsoil.com
- A funny page laying out organic lawn care as the cheap 'n' easy way to go! Seriously, though, folks, there's good info packed in with the humor. Check it out.
- Natural Organic Lawn Care for Ohio
- An Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet. Although it's designed for Ohio lawns and pests, there's plenty information applicable to any organic lawn.
- Safer Pest Control Project
- This Illinois organization has info on pesticides as well as good fact sheets on maintaining a pesticide free (and healthy!) lawn. Their website also has useful links to follow.
- Safelawns.org
- The excellent website of "a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting natural lawn care and grounds maintenance." They have photos of beautiful organic lawns, free informative how-to videos on organic lawn care, and a host of resources and reasons for going organic.
- The Green Guide
- The Green Guide offers many articles about tending an organic lawn. The Guide also covers lots of other topics; it's a consumer magazine for the earthy types.
- Organic Lawn Care Tips
- Good tips about organic lawn care, as well as some useful links.
- Organic Lawn Care for the Cheap and Lazy
- This is a fun and useful site. A must read for those interested in doing it the organic way.
Reel Mowers
Help the Environment by Using a Reel Mower
No fumes, no noise, no fossil fuel used to run 'em!
Organic Weed Control Products
Corn Gluten
Corn gluten is a good organic way to prevent weeds in your lawn. It can also be used in your garden beds. Apply in the early spring. A second application can alos be used. Follow the package instructions!
Corn gluten becomes more effective each year; i.e., year 2 it will prevent more weeds than in year 1, and by year 3 its effectiveness will be significantly higher than in year 1. It prevents the weed seeds from germinating. Thus, you will still have to remove existing weeds by another method--such as digging up those dandelions.
DO NOT use corn gluten if you are going to be seeding within 60 days. The grass seeds (like weed seeds) won't develop roots. As a general rule, apply corn gluten in the spring and seed in the fall.
Corn gluten becomes more effective each year; i.e., year 2 it will prevent more weeds than in year 1, and by year 3 its effectiveness will be significantly higher than in year 1. It prevents the weed seeds from germinating. Thus, you will still have to remove existing weeds by another method--such as digging up those dandelions.
DO NOT use corn gluten if you are going to be seeding within 60 days. The grass seeds (like weed seeds) won't develop roots. As a general rule, apply corn gluten in the spring and seed in the fall.
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