Tips For A Healthy Organic Lawn

Lawn Now, Birds.... Later?
Lawn care companies are notorious for treating the whole lawn instead of the problem areas exposing more areas for potential contact with wildlife. Birds often eat granules left behind and they also feed on the bugs that have been exposed to the lethal chemicals. To put it in perspective, people worry about West Nile killing off certain species of birds, yet lawn chemicals are responsible for killing thousands more. There is something that we can do now and that is to take steps to create a environmentally friendly lawn.

It Starts With The Soil
In order to have healthy grass you must have healthy soil. Adding a thin sprinkling of compost in the spring and fall will add nutrients to the soil. If you don't have your own compost try contacting your city. Many cities now have composting facilities were you can pick up bags or truck loads of compost at a reasonable cost. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn will also release nutrients back into the soil. If your soil is heavy with clay or compressed from high traffic you may want to aerate the soil a couple times a year. 

Mow High and Often
The longer your grass is kept (3 inches) the healthy it will become and the more aggressively it will be able to shade out potential weeds. Mow often enough so that you never cut more than one-third of the grass blade. Mower blades should always be sharp enough so that they actually cut the grass instead of tearing.

Weed, Rake and Water
If you must use a weed control besides the old dandelion picker, choose one that is as organic as possible. It is important to always read directions carefully and only treat the problem areas rather than the entire lawn. Also, raking your lawn will lift the thatch (layer of dead plant material) allowing water and nutrients to penetrate the soil and reach the grass roots. If your lawn needs water, it is better to water deeply and not too often. Roots will grow deeper making your lawn more drought tolerant. An organic lawn is a happy lawn, a happy lawn is a happy habitat for both wildlife and your family.