Would you like to have the prettiest lawn on the block?  Are
you tired of having to fight brown spot and other fungal diseases?
Does it seem that your lawn takes way too much water to keep it
green in the summer? Are Chinch bugs a problem? If you can say yes
to any of these questions, then you need to start an organic fertilizing
program for your lawn. By feeding the soil and letting the soil
feed the grass you can solve each and every one of these problems.
Here is how it works.
An unhealthy soil is
one that is lacking in one or more essential elements. The perfect soil
is 45% soil, 5% organic matter, 25% water, and 25% air. This first thing
you notice about an unhealthy lawn soil is how hard and compacted it is.
A compacted soil does not breathe and also makes it hard for water to penetrate
easily. In missing these two ingredients, 50% of what you need for a healthy
grass has been lost! This lack of water and air makes it hard for the beneficial
life of the soil to thrive. It is the existence of these microorganisms
in your soil that allows your grass to access the nutrients in the soil.
You can encourage the life in the soil by making the conditions right for
them to thrive. In doing this you will find that you have a healthy soil
that produces a healthy grass. Sound simple? It is! |
The
first and most important step is to keep your lawn breathing.
You need to aerate twice a year until your lawn feels lush and soft
when you walk on it. Check with your rental yard to see if they
carry aerators that you can rent by the day. One kind you
can pull behind your riding lawn mower. There are other ways
to aerate for the smaller lawns or if you do not have a riding lawn
mower. A simple spade fork can be used; just drive the fork
into the soil and rock it back and forth.
The second step is to
stop using any synthetic lawn fertilizers or weed and feed. Many people
have lost large trees to the weed part of the weed and feed. Begin by using
an organic fertilizer instead. You will find many good ones on the market.
These fertilizers contain not only the N-P-K that your lawn needs but also
micronutrients and bio-stimulants to start feeding the life of the soil.
In the beginning you need to fertilize in March, May, and October. After
building a healthy soil you will be able to cut down to March and October
going into the third year. The fifth year you can get by with fertilizing
just once in the spring. Follow the recommended rates on the fertilizer
of your choice. |
your
grass and the soil life. Use a liquid seaweed spray to foliar feed
your grass to green it up and make the nutrients in the soil available
to the grass. Use a bio-stimulant to build the populations of beneficial
organisms in the soil. You can actually inoculate your soil with
the microorganisms themselves by using a bio-inoculant. A top dressing
of compost ¼ inch thick will amaze you. Instead of using
a product like Ironite to quickly green your lawn, use Texas Greensand.
It is mineral sand that is 15% iron with calcium and magnesium,
both essential to a healthy grass. Don’t catch the clippings. You
need 5% organic matter for a healthy soil. The improved life in
the soil will use this as food and not let it build up as thatch.
And there are many organic ways to fight insects and diseases if
they do crop up. Going organic with your lawn care will save you
money. A healthy soil (grass!) will use less water and have less
pest and disease problems. And it will be the prettiest one on the
block!