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5 Organic Lawn Care Tips

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You don't need a lot of synthetic chemicals to grow a green, healthy lawn. The following lawn care tips provide some organic methods for growing the lawn of your dreams.

1. Test Soil Regularly

A nutrient deficient lawn won't look healthy, and it will be more prone to pests, diseases, and weed invasions. Perform a soil test at least once a year, preferably in spring. The test will tell you what nutrients are missing. You can then use an organic fertilizer or compost to make up for the deficiency.

2. Add Compost Topdressing

Compost is made up of decayed organic matter. You can make your own from kitchen scraps or purchase commercial organic compost. Both varieties are rich in nutrients that will help fertilize the lawn. Compost can be spread on top of the grass in a thin layer and then raked lightly so it sifts down to the soil. Follow a compost topdressing with a regular watering schedule to help the nutrients to begin the process of leaching into the soil.

3. Use a Mulching Mower

One of the best organic fertilizers for your lawn is none other than the grass clippings themselves. Grass clippings contain a high amount of nitrogen, along with other nutrients that benefit your lawn. Instead of bagging them up for disposal, use a mulching mower. These mowers finely chop the clippings as you mow so that they can sift down to the soil instead of sitting on top of the grass. The clippings then decompose and add their nutrients back to the soil.

4. Water With Wisdom

Proper watering ensures healthy grass and reduces the chances of lawn disease, which reduces the need for chemical treatments. Fungal and some bacterial diseases thrive in overly wet lawns, for example. A soil moisture meter can help you more accurately track soil dryness so you only water when necessary in the amount needed. Furthermore, avoid watering in the evening when moisture can sit on top of the grass and invite fungal growth.

5. Manage Weed Invasions

Weeds are one of the hardest parts of maintaining a healthy lawn. Ideally from an organic standpoint, the good cultural care provided by the tips above should ensure your lawn is lush enough to crown out most weeds. What few weeds do invade can be pulled when they are young, before they set seed. Of course, sometimes weeds get a foothold in the lawn. Fortunately, there are some organic-rated herbicides that work well for managing the more stubborn weeds.

Contact a landscaper that specializes in organic lawn care for more help.


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