Organic Programs
More people are asking for information regarding organic lawn care. Many people want to decrease or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in their home lawns. There is concern some products may be harmful to humans, beneficial insects, wildlife, and pets. This is not necessarily true however. With proper use and common sense precautions, lawncare products are quite safe. That being said, organic lawncare does have some benefits over traditional lawn care.
The term conventional or traditional lawn care as used here, implies the use of inorganic fertilizers, or more correctly, soluble fertilizers. Most traditional lawn fertilizers are soluble fertilizers. They provide macro- and micro-nutrients to the lawn as soon as the fertilizers get wet and soak into the soil.
Organic fertilizers are not soluble— in other words, adding water to organic fertilizers doesn't change them or make them readily available for plants to use. They must first be processed by microbes before the nutrients are in a form useable by plants. Inorganic fertilizers are in such a form that this intermediate microbe step is not required. As soon as soluble fertilizers become wet, they are ready for use by the plant.
The plant can't tell the difference between a soluble fertilizer and an organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers take longer before they become available for plant use. Soluble fertilizers become available much faster, which could be a problem. However, today, fertilizer producers have incorporated a time-release aspect to their fertilizer. This slows down the nutrient release time-table to a controlled release.
One of the main advantages of organic lawncare is that the homeowner is more involved in the health of their landscape and ecosystem. This is an important difference. It represents a commitment to the environment. This commitment benefits not only your lawn or landscape, but also the local wildlife including beneficial insects and microbes living in the soil.
The soil is the real beneficiary of organic lawncare. Part of an organic program is the addition of organic matter such as compost or lawn clippings to the soil. Over time, this additional organic matter greatly improves the health of the soil.
Improved soil contributes to healthy plants that will be less susceptible to damage from pests or environmental stress. Fertilizer may be applied less frequently than in conventional lawn care but timing of application becomes especially important. Weeds, insects, and diseases are managed by cultural practices that are oriented toward prevention. Natural organic methods also emphasize the recycling of organic wastes.
Limited scientific research has been done on exclusively natural organic lawn care programs. However, well-documented research has been done on many practices that are an integral part of organic lawn care such as core aeration, mowing height, and top-dressing with compost. Recommendations for a completely natural organic approach are therefore based on years of collective experience.
Being aware of the options involved in organic lawncare will make you a better informed gardener and a more responsible landowner.
How do you get started with an organic lawncare program?
The fastest way is to stop using chemical fertilizers. Stop spraying for insects. Mow your lawn at the highest level possible for the type of grass you have, leave your lawn clippings on the ground, aerate your soil periodically, and apply organic fertilizers that are protein based. You can also add a thin layer of compost (top dressing) every 4 — 5 years. Compost is not a fertilizer, but a soil amendment that improves microbe activity. That is pretty much the gist of organic lawncare.
Read also: Switching from a conventional to an organic lawn care program
Going Organic
The first step in switching from conventional to natural organic lawn care is to assess the quality of the existing lawn. If an existing lawn contains few weeds and consists of a desirable turfgrass species, natural organic methods and cultural practices can maintain a satisfactory lawn.
If however, excessive weeds or an undesirable turfgrass species dominate the lawn, it may be best to kill the entire lawn and start over, add plenty of organic matter to the existing top soil and then seed with a quality lawn seed.
The next step is assessing soil quality.
Natural organic lawn care methods underscore good soil quality as a prime factor in growing healthy lawns. Good soil contains plenty of organic matter. Organic matter improves soil structure by binding mineral soil particles together to form aggregates.
Aggregates create greater pore space among the aggregated particles, providing optimal conditions for root growth. Increased pore space also improves both soil drainage and water-holding capacity and improves soil aeration.
Sufficient quantities of organic matter in the soil also aid in nitrogen fixation, reduce soil borne plant diseases, and helps hold on to nutrients for plant use as needed. Good soil also contains adequate nutrients plants can readily use.
Soil testing
A useful tool in the assessment of soil quality is a soil test performed at a soil-testing lab. Most tests will measure pH and various nutrient levels. Also included will be recommendations for chemical fertilizer applications to correct apparent deficiencies. Organic matter tests are usually available as an option and measure the percentage of organic matter in the soil.
The transition
The transition to natural organic methods can be instituted at any time if you're saving the existing lawn. Choose appropriate organic fertilizers with the right ingredients to correct deficiencies found in the soil test. Most soil test recommendations are based on using conventional chemical fertilizers. Use the nutrient rates recommended in the soil test as a guideline for the application of natural organic fertilizers. If you're not saving the existing lawn, follow directions suitable for re-establishing a lawn in your area.
Cultural practices
Cultural practices in natural organic lawncare are similar to those used in conventional lawn care. Proper maintenance techniques and timing are more crucial in a natural organic lawn since the aim is preventing potential problems.
There are two key points to keep in mind when going organic. The first is that compared to conventional lawn care, results take longer. Organic lawn care stresses ongoing soil building and understanding that there are no quick fixes as promised by conventional chemical fertilizers.
A few weeds or insects here and there are part of the organic approach. Perfection should not be an expectation. Used consistently, a reasonably uniform green lawn, resistant to adverse environmental conditions can be expected and all without relying on artificial chemicals.
