At TimberRock Landscape and Pond, we are never satisfied until our customers are satisfied. That is why we are pleased to offer you some tips of the trade — including many do-it-yourself hints that we hope will help you get the most out of your outdoor spaces.
Q: What is meant by Organic Lawn Care, and why should I consider it?
A: In simple terms, organic care means that healthy soil grows healthy plants.
Organic lawn fertilizers contain raw materials that feed the living populations of microorganisms in the soil — stimulating them to accomplish many jobs that now consume great amounts of your time, money and energy. For example, microorganisms:
- Fertilize, by fixing nitrogen from the air, mineralizing the soil’s organic nutrient, generating carbon dioxide (plants’ most needed nutrient) and dissolving mineral nutrient from rock.
- Decompose thatch and other organic matter into valuable nutrients and humus — which, in turn increase the water- and nutrient-holding capacity of the soil.
- Aerate the soil.
- Control many lawn pests and disease problems.
- Provide other long-term benefits that have yet to be realized.
There is something else you should know. When you read the label of a bag of chemical fertilizer, which simply feeds the plants, there is no information about its benefits to the soil. That’s because chemical fertilizers contain only minute quantities of the nutrients that feed the life in the soil.
Q: Is there anything I can do to make my lawn healthier?
A: There are many ways that you can promote a healthy organic lawn:
Fertilize Naturally — The guiding principle of organic lawn care is to nourish the soil. In this way, it differs fundamentally from chemical lawn care, which focuses on feeding the grass. Nourish your soil with natural and organic products. Unlike quick-release chemical fertilizers, these products will not burn grass or contaminate ground and surface water.
Topdress with Compost — Nourish your soil by sprinkling screened, finished compost over your lawn. Finished compost has an earthy odor, spongy texture and rich brown color. It contributes a wide range of both macronutrients and micronutrients, which are released slowly over a long period of time. It also contributes microorganisms, which help decompose thatch and other organic matter.
Aerate — Aeration relieves compaction and cultivates the soil. It is best done in the spring and/or fall prior to fertilization. Aeration increases air and water penetration and movement in the soil. You can ensure continual, natural, free aeration by attracting and protecting earthworms in your soil. Aeration is especially important in Pennsylvania, as our clay-based soil tends to get compacted easily, and a compacted lawn is more prone to weed infestations. If you can’t stick a pencil into your lawn, it’s too compacted and needs to be aerated. The best way to aerate is to use a plug-removing machine or a core aerator, which removes small plugs of soil and deposits them on top of the lawn to decompose.
Overseed — Your lawn is comprised of millions of individual grass plants. Like any other living thing, these plants eventually die. It is important to overseed once every year to keep your lawn thick and healthy. A dense lawn will crowd out weeds like dandelions and crabgrass that crop up in bare or thinly covered patches. Choose grass varieties that suit the light, moisture and soil conditions of your yard. Overseeding is also a great way to introduce hardy, pest resistant and low-maintenance grass varieties such as endophytic perennial ryes and fine fescues into your lawn. A lawn with diverse grass types is better able to deal with and recover from stressors such as droughts, pest outbreaks, diseases and traffic. It is best to overseed in the early fall, although early spring overseeding is also acceptable.
Mow High — High mowing is one of the most important aspects of organic lawn care. This simple practice contributes enormously to the health of a lawn. Experts recommend at least 3 inches to shade out sun-loving weeds, encourage good root development, and keep soil cooler and moister. In addition, a longer lawn has a greater ability to collect nutrients form the sun, thereby improving the overall health of the grass.
Water Wisely — Experts agree that a lawn requires no more than one inch of water a week. Sometimes, rain will provide your lawn with all the water it needs. At other times, irrigation is required. As a general rule, water deeply once a week during the early morning. Watering during the late evening is not recommended, because cooler temperatures and sitting water invite disease. Watering deeply will encourage deep root growth, which will make the grass heartier and more tolerant to droughts.
Use Corn Gluten Meal — Corn Gluten Meal (CGM), a byproduct of the wet-milling process, is typically used as a protein supplement in hog feed. However, it also can be used as a pre-emergent herbicide, which inhibits root formation during germination. CGM controls crab grass, barnyard grass, foxtails, dandelion, lambs quarter, pigweed, purslane and smartweed. It is safe for use on established turf. Do not use CGM in an area in which you are trying to establish turf grass. It contains 10 percent nitrogen by weight, thus making it an ideal “weed and feed” product. On grass, CGM is often applied at 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.; in garden situations, the rate may vary from 20 to 60 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. In order to be effective, CGM can be applied only as soon as the snow melts in early spring.