more slowly ) costs you less in time and equipment wear-and-tear . With less watering and mowing , you could easily save hundreds of dollars over time . And because the organic fertilizers become part of the soil , the need to add fertilizer greatly diminishes over time . Here ’ s what to do …
n Step 1 : Understand that you have a problem . The culture of chemical-based growing has made America ’ s lawns ( and gardens ) dependent not on nature ’ s own growing mechanisms but on the next application of chemicals . And these are not friendly chemicals .
Example : Check the label on a bag of weed and feed , a common treatment that combines weed killer and fertilizer . You ’ ll most likely see all kinds of warnings about not letting the product run off into storm drains or streams or other water , not letting it come in contact with birds and frogs and other critters ( including pets and children ), not letting it touch bushes and other plants , not getting it on your skin , etc . It ’ s nasty stuff .
n Step 2 : Know the organic lawn concept . If you want a lawn that ’ s self-sustaining and free of toxins , your strategy should be to mimic and enhance nature instead of trying to override it with harmful chemicals .
Cornmeal … fish … alfalfa … compost . These are the types of ingredients in organic fertilizers that nourish not just your lawn but also the earthworms and microorganisms that truly healthy lawns depend on , all of which are killed by many chemical treatments . n Step 3 : Decide what kind of lawn you want . There are three types of organic lawns , each of which requires a different level of commitment . Do you want your yard to look like Nats Park or Augusta National Golf Club ? That control and uniformity are possible without chemicals , but it requires significant time and effort . The second option is a vibrant , healthy lawn made mostly of grass , even if that grass isn ’ t as flawless and consistent as a professionally manicured baseball field . This takes less time than a perfect lawn , although more time than most home owners might want to put in .
The third option requires the least skill and exertion and gets your lawn off drugs right away — being happy to mow anything green that comes up from the ground as long as it ’ s healthy and attractive . This could include significant clover , wild grass and other “ unintentional ” growth .
Don ’ t worry — it doesn ’ t have to include weeds such as dandelions and crabgrass . It feels good under the feet . It ’ s still a lawn . This is the path most novice home owners should start with , and you can always ramp up to the next level if you decide to .
n Step 4 : Listen to the weeds . Your lawn is trying to talk to you , so listen . Weeds are Mother Nature ’ s messengers . Their presence typically indicates problems with the soil — your lawn ’ s foundation . When you understand why weeds are growing , you can change the soil to make it more suitable for growing grass . Dandelions , for example , are telling you that your soil doesn ’ t have enough calcium — add calcium ( see Step 6 ), and you will have fewer dandelions . One of the most common and dominant weeds , plantain , tells you that your soil might need to be loosened through aeration . The presence of
Top 10 Benefits of Going Organic in Your Lawn and Garden
1 Safety for humans , pets and the planet and its other creatures . 2 Better overall health for humans and the earth ’ s ecosystem . 3 Water conservation due to drought-tolerant lawns . 4 Soil health and regeneration from organic fertilizers . 5 Pest reduction ( since insects attack plants in a weakened state of health ). 6 Resource conservation ( since organic lawn care relies primarily on recycled products ). 7 Financial savings from less watering , mowing and fertilizing . 8 Greenhouse gas reduction from avoidance of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides . 9 Noise reduction ( from less mowing , blowing , aerating and dethatching ). 10 Environmental awareness ( from people spreading the gospel of natural lawn care ). plenty I Autumn harvest 2021 33