Getting your lawn off drugs
By Fiona Wagner • Bankrate.com
A natural alternative
For homeowners looking to get their lawns off drugs, there is a natural alternative, but it's no quick fix -- it takes at least a
season to get your lawn on the road to health again.
"It's taken years to create the problem -- don't expect to fix it in a month," says Reddick.
That's because organic lawn care looks beyond the symptoms (weeds and insects) and treats the source of the
problem. For example, dandelions in your garden suggest your soil has low calcium and a low pH, so you may need to hand-pull
the weeds then add lime and calcium. By building up a healthy, nurturing soil, your grass will grow stronger and be better
equipped to beat out insects and weeds naturally, ultimately saving you time and money.
"Initially, it can be more expensive to start [an organic program], but you weed less and use less products and
labour to keep the lawn healthy," says Upton.
10 steps to organic lawn care
- Test your soil every few years to check the pH level and any nutrient deficiencies.
- Aerate to relieve compaction and increase air and water penetration.
- Rake to remove the thick top layer of compacted organic material called thatch, a tasty treat for cinch bugs.
- Over-seed with a variety of grass species. Kentucky Bluegrass is most popular in sodded lawns but is very high
maintenance. Chose grasses that are drought-resistant and pest tolerant.
- Fertilize naturally with compost, grass clippings and/or slow-release organic fertilizers twice a year, especially
in the fall.
- Set your mower height to approximately three inches to discourage weeds and insects, and keep the mower blade
sharp. Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade.
- Recycle your clippings by leaving them on the lawn.
- Water deeply, not frequently. A lawn requires one inch of water a week to encourage deep roots and discourage
pests such as grubs.
- Pull weeds by hand as they come up.
- Consider less lawn. Use paving stones for high traffic areas and low-maintenance native groundcovers.
DIY versus hired help
While there are a growing number of lawn care companies that provide organic lawn care solutions, beware of green-washing. Just
because a company advertises organic, ecological or environmental services, it may still use pesticides.
The OLA suggests you ask the following questions to ensure the services are truly environmentally-friendly:
- Do you have a pesticide-free lawn care program? The answer to this should be a simple yes or no. Programs range from 100 percent
pesticide-free to spot and blanket spraying, so ensure you know what you're signing up for.
- Do you assess a lawn for problems before treatment? Understanding the problem is critical to providing an effective solution.
- How will your program contribute to healthy soil? Healthy soil equals healthy grass.
- Are you required to post warning signs? For a treatment that is truly organic, no warning sign is necessary.
- Do you provide advice for ongoing maintenance? Beneficial cultural practices, such as mowing high and watering properly, are
key to maintaining a green, healthy lawn.
Fiona Wagner is a freelance writer in Georgetown, Ont.
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