Organic Lawn Care

Take Simple Steps This Fall to Convert Your Lawn to Organic

Fall is the most effective time to begin transitioning your lawn to organic. The key to a healthy lawn is healthy soil and sensible mowing, watering and fertilizing practices. Healthy soil contains high organic content and is teeming with biological life. Healthy soil supports the development of healthy grass that's resistant to weeds and pests. In a very healthy, fertile and well-maintained lawn, diseases and pest problems are rare.

But doesn't it cost more you ask? If your lawn is currently chemically-dependent, it might be more expensive to revive the biological life. But, in the long term, it can actually cost you less money. Once established, an organic lawn uses fewer materials, like water and fertilizers, and requiresless labor for mowing and maintenance. A lot of , your lawn can be safe for children, pets and your local drinking water provide.

Getting Started- Late September- Early October

1. Mow High Until the Season Ends - Bad mowing practices cause more problems than any alternative cultural apply. Mowing with an uninteresting blade makes the turf vulnerable to disease and mowing too close invitations sunlight in for weeds to need a hold. Keep your blades sharp, or ask your service supplier to sharpen their blades . For the last and first mowing, mow all the way down to 2 inches to forestall fungal issues. For the rest of the year keep it at three-three.5 to shade out weeds and foster deep, drought-resistant roots.

2. Aerate - Compaction is an invite for weeds. If your lawn is difficult, compacted, and filled with weeds or vacant spots, aerate to assist air, water, and fertilizer to enter. If you can't stick a screwdriver
into your soil, it is too compacted. Get along with your neighbors and rent an aerator. Once you have got an established, healthy lawn, worms and birds pecking at your soil will aerate it for free!

3. Fertilize, but, go easy and go organic! - Fertilizing in early fall ensures smart growth and root
development for your grass. Nitrogen, the most abundant nutrient in lawn fertilizers promotes color and growth. Adding too much nitrogen, or quick release artificial fertilizers can end in quicker growth and the need for more mowing. An excessive amount of nitrogen will additionally weaken the grass, alter the pH, and promote disease, insect, and thatch build-up. If applied too late, nutrients will
leach into nearby surface waters. Be attentive to native phosphorus or nitrogen loading considerations. Your soil test results can ensure that you apply what you need.

Your grass clippings contain fifty eightp.c of the nitrogen added from fertilizers, improve soil conditions, suppress disease, and reduce thatch and crabgrass. Thus, leave the clippings on your lawn. You can also use a mulching mower and leave the leaves on the lawn too.

Compost is a perfect soil modification, adding the much-required organic content to your soil and suppressing many turf pathogens. In the autumn and spring, once aerating, spread ¼ inch layer of organic or naturally-based compost over your lawn. Compost tea and worm castings are additionally great additions.

4. Overseed With the Right Grass Seed - Once again, fall is the best time to seed your lawn. Grass varieties differ in their resistance to bound pests, tolerance to atmospheric condition, growth habit and appearance. Endophytic grass seed provides natural protection against some insects and fungal diseases - major benefits for managing a lawn organically. Talk to your native nursery about the most effective seed for your space. Check to determine the weed content of the grass seed and that there aren't any pesticide coatings.

Lastly, develop your tolerance- many plants that are considered weeds in an exceeding lawn, have helpful qualities. Learn to scan your “weeds” for what they indicate about your soil conditions. Monocrops do not grow in nature and variety could be a good factor.

For instance, clover- thought-about a typical weed, is found in soil with low nitrogen levels, compaction issues, and drought stress - conditions that may be alleviated with the higher than recommendations. However, clover could be a helpful plant that takes free nitrogen from the atmosphere and distributes it to the grass, which helps it grow. Clover roots are in-depth and drought resistant, providing vital resources to soil organisms, and staying inexperienced long when turf goes naturally dormant.

It's suggested that you analyze your soil to work out specific soil wants. Contact your University extension service to seek out how to take and send in a very soil sample. In addition to nutrients and pH, raise for organic content analysis, and request organic care recommendations. Ideal pH should be between vi.5-7.0, and organic content ought to be fivep.c or higher.