Organic Lawn Care
Doing a job the right way goes beyond aesthetics. At TimberRock Landscape and Pond, we understand that traditional chemical lawn care is harmful to not only the environment at large, but also the health of your family and pets. That's why we offer a variety of natural treatments that will promote a healthy, vibrant lawn while minimizing these potential dangers. In simple terms, organic care means that healthy soil grows thick green healthy lawns. 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 on its benefits to the soil. That's because chemical fertilizers contain only minute quantities of the nutrients that feed the life in the soil.
TimberRock's Organic Lawn Care utilizes simple techniques and natural fertilizers and minerals to optimize the soil conditions of your lawn, producing a nutrient-rich environment where your grass will thrive. As your lawn becomes thicker, greener and healthier, its immunity to weeds, pests and disease will be boosted, naturally.
The first step to a healthy organic lawn is a soil test. Testing the soil is beneficial in many ways. The topsoil under your lawn may be rich in some minerals and lacking in others. A soil test tell us what minerals, nutrients and microorganisms are in the soil and which ones your lawn needs. There is no point wasting money by adding minerals that nature has already provided. Using the results of the soil test, we can more effectively rebuild your soil and then your lawn. This process will create an underground ecosystem, which will be the foundation for a healthy organic lawn.
Here is what we recommend to properly care for your lawn and the earth - organically:
Fertilize Naturally - Nourish your soil with natural and organic products, which, unlike quick-release chemical fertilizers, will not burn grass or contaminate ground and surface water. more.
Topdress with Compost - Nourish your soil by sprinkling screened, finished compost over your lawn. Its nutrients are released slowly, over a long period of time, and its microorganisms help decompose thatch and other organic matter. more.
Aerate - Aeration relieves compaction, cultivates the soil, increases air and water penetration and movement in the soil, attracts and protects earthworms, and resists weed infestations. more.
Overseed - Overseed once every year to replace dead grass, keep your lawn thick and healthy, and crowd out weeds. Choosing a variety of grasses makes your lawn better able to cope with and recover from droughts, pest outbreaks, diseases and traffic. more.
Mow High - Simply mowing your lawn to a height of at least 3 inches contributes enormously to its health by: shading out sun-loving weeds, encouraging good root development, keeping soil cooler and moister, and making it better able to collect nutrients form the sun. more.
Water Wisely - If rain is scarce, water deeply once a week to encourage deep root growth, which will make the grass heartier and more drought tolerant. Water early in the morning rather than the evening to avoid cooler temperatures and sitting water, which invite disease. more.
Use Corn Gluten Meal (CGM) - CGM controls crabgrass, dandelions and other weeds. It is safe for use on established turf, not where you are trying to grow new grass. Apply just after the snow melts in early spring. more.