Defining The Organic Lawn

Posted by Carbon Zero Lawn Care on March 19, 2011

Organic lawn care is gaining in popularity – but what does "Organic Lawn Care" mean?

Organic, all natural lawn care includes the following tenets:

- No toxic chemicals are used to maintain the color, kill weeds or get the grass to grow.

- We say “Yes” to Weeds and Beneficial Insects. This does not mean that weeds cannot be dealt with and their numbers controlled organically, it just means that the total eradication of all weeds in an organic lawn is unlikely and not necessarily desired.

Here’s a great example: Clover is a natural nitrogen bank and is not considered a “true weed” in an organic lawn.

Another great example: Beneficial Nematodes (little underground pest hunters – more on those in another blog) help control damaging insects including grubs, fleas, mole crickets and more.

- Grass is cut high – up to 3 - 3 ½ inches during peak hot weather. This keeps the soil cool, and cool soil promotes drought tolerance to the grass roots. Longer grass also keeps potential weeds in the shade, which prevents their growth. If you are thinking about re-seeding or over-seeding, certain species of tall fescue are drought resistant which lowers the amount of watering required.

- Grass is not bagged and is cut using mulching blades. The nutrients required for a healthy lawn actually come from the mulch which is left on the lawn.

- Grass is cut in alternating, right-angle patterns. This allows the grass to grow in a healthy manner and prevents “ruts” of mulch, spreading the food over the entire lawn.

- Natural ingredients are used over the course of the season to feed and sustain an organic lawn. Organic lawn feeding materials are no more expensive than the chemical treatments that were previously so popular, but the difference is that you can immediately USE your lawn!

- Patience is required during the switch from a lawn “on steroids” to an organic lawn. When starting an organic approach, your lawn is stressed out from the chemicals – the weaning process may temporarily result in more weeds.

Love your organic lawn – it will love you back with hours of carefree, safe enjoyment for your family and an overall healthier environment.

For more information on organic lawn care, please refer to The Ohio State University Turf Science Department (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/4000/4031.html)