There are numerous ways to make a difference in your lawn care without using toxic chemicals. These practices are safe for your family, you and pets as well as the natural environment.
Organic methods emphasize cultural control like aerating and mowing high, which help fortify grass’s natural resistance to weeds and pests. They encourage earthworms, who are attracted to them, to aerate and leave castings that increase the activity of microbial organisms. This helps reduce compaction.
Improved Soil Health
Healthy soil supplies plants with many microorganisms that convert nutrients into soluble food the roots can absorb. A lawn with a high level of beneficial organisms is more resistant to disease and pests.
The retention of water is also improved by soil health. This makes the system less susceptible to drought and more resilient to low water sources.
Organic fertilizers contain the correct amount of the most important nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) as well as Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in natural and biodegradable forms. They release them slowly over time, which leads to healthier soil and healthier roots.
A soil test is the most effective way to determine your soil’s nutrient requirements. It’s free and is available at any University of Rhode Island Extension Center. A soil test can reveal any deficiencies in nutrients and tell you how much of a specific mineral, organic, or biostimulant should be used.
Less Fertilizing
Synthetic fertilizers, also referred as chemical or inorganic fertilizers, were created following WWII to aid farmers increase yields on their crops. They are usually derived from natural gas, rock fragments or nitrogen gas.
Inorganic fertilizers are added to soils and supply nutrients in the form ammonium or the ions of nitrate. Ionic forms of nutrients are readily available for plants’ immediate absorption, which can lead to rapid growth and greenery.
Chemicals can alter the soil’s pH balance and lead to the buildup of toxic substances in certain nutrients. They can also alter the soil’s structure and ability to hold nutrients and water.
Organic fertilizers enrich soil by improving its structure and enhancing the capacity of it to hold water. In time, organic fertilizers can also promote the activity of soil microorganisms necessary to maintain a healthy soil. This will in turn improve the quality of the soil and decreases the need to weed.
Less Weeds
If your lawn is chemical free, the weeds are less likely grow. It is also safer for pets and children to play on.
A lawn that is weed-free will be more sustainable over the long term. When chemicals are used to manage the weeds, they strip the soil of its natural ability to fight weeds.
The weeds will start to overtake healthy grass, causing problems such as crabgrass and dandelions.
It’s also an excellent idea to cut your lawn a bit higher than normal and then cut off more leaves at a time so that the grass’s roots can replenish them with food reserves.
Another effective method for weed control is to add organic mulches to the soil. The addition of organic yard mulches to the soil by adding straw mulch, bark mulch, or grass clippings can keep weeds at bay and provide nutrients.
Better retention of water
The soil in a chemical free lawn will be more in its ability to hold and drain water since it contains more organic matter than a soil that is heavily fertilized with synthetic fertilizers. This prevents runoff from contaminating groundwater and surface water, as well as the habitats of animals.
Healthy soils are also beneficial for the environment because they help to retain carbon in the atmosphere. This is a critical safeguard against climate change. Healthy soils also have beneficial microbes that break down and release nutrients from products that are contaminated.
This makes the lawn more self-sufficient as the nutrients it requires can be stored and utilized when necessary. A soil test can determine the extent of your soil’s deficiency in essential minerals. This can be easily corrected by using mineral supplements. They can be prepared using natural sources, like seaweed extract or the kelp plant, fish emulsions or plant hormones.
