Natural Lawn Care

A natural lawn is maintained without chemicals and the results are rewarding: a healthy, beautiful lawn that’s easier on you and the environment.

Following natural lawn care practices makes it easy to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers while saving time, water, money and our waterways.

Here’s how.

• Mow high and mow often. Never cut more than 1/3 of the blade. A good grass length is 2-3″.
• Leave the clippings on the lawn. Clippings provide free fertilizer and will break down quickly.
• Water deeply but infrequently. An inch of water per week is all that is needed to encourage deep rooting and to crowd out weeds.
• Aerate spring and fall and top dress with compost.

What about weeds?

Lots of weeds and moss in your lawn indicate poor growing conditions. Locate your lawn where it will be happy, in a well drained, sunny location. Moss and weeds such as clover and English daisy contribute to the biodiversity to your garden.

Think beautiful thoughts and let them be. If you really don’t want the weeds, the best control is to dig them out by hand.

Did you know?

• Brown grass in the summer is a sign of dormancy; your grass isn’t dead, it’s just resting!
• Clover is valuable for pollinators, and is actually good for your lawn since it helps make atmospheric nitrogen available.

For more tips visit Gardening Naturally.

Fertilizers – Feed the Soil, Not the Plant

Healthy soil is home to a variety of organisms busy at work aerating the soil, breaking down debris and making organic matter and nutrients available to plants. Soil organisms are the life force of the Earth. Without them, your garden will not be able to follow a natural cycle of growth and decay.

The best way to enrich your garden’s soil is to add organic matter. Composting offers the home gardener a ready supply of the best source of organic matter you can find.

If you’re growing food, choose certified organic fertilizers derived from natural sources like sea by-products. These fertilizers contain slow releasing, insoluble nutrients that promote steady growth over time and reduce the possibility of run-off. Chemical fertilizers harm soil organisms, such as earthworms, that are vital to long term soil health.