Have a gargantuan patch of grass you are n’t sure how to care for ? This constitutive lawn care pathfinder will show you how to care for your yard in the most organic , natural way of life possible , as well as some locoweed alternatives to try .

Lawns are evil .

Ok , perhaps that is a harsh generalisation . I care a picnic on indulgent blades of grass as much as the next person . At the same time , I do n’t like wasteful practice session that are harmful to the worldly concern .

Growing GREEN: The Essential Organic Lawn Care Guide

My Wildflower lawn.

I would much favor if everyone would supplant their water - guzzle lawn withdrought - liberal garden , native plants toattract pollinator , zero - waste vegetable gardens , or pavers andgroundcovers .

I lately transitioned to ano - mow , wildflower lawnin my front one thousand , and it ’s one of my favored things ever . And the neighbour are evenly obsessed with it .

All of the above considered a pristine , green yard is a fashion of lifetime for many homeowners . Organic lawn care allows you to care for and enjoy your forage in a responsible , nature - friendly way .

baby-blue eyes flowering in wildflower lawn

5 Steps to Organic Lawn Care

In my old house , I maintained a small patch of supergrass for kids and pets to represent on in the back garden . It was a lovely , light-green , constituent , natural lawn that required almost no maintenance . If you , too , must have weed , then here is how I give care for my lawn without pesticides , herbicides , shop - buy fertilizer , or water system - dissipation .

1. Prepare the Soil

crease the lawn to remove any debris . slay any weeds without too much dig . Opening up the soil allows dormant pot seed to awaken and bourgeon , make even more smoke ! Keep the weeding to a lower limit , and it will tighten the overall number of mourning band you have to dig up in the futurity .

2. Check (and Correct) pH

Grass likes alkaline dirt . you may easilytest your grunge ’s pH at homewith distilled water , acetum , and baking pop . If necessary , you’re able to also purchase asoil pH test outfit .

If you have acidulous ground , you may spread some Citrus aurantifolia to help raise the pH.

3. Overseed

A central part of constitutive lawn care is overseeding properly . To do so , you ’ll need to get the correct kind of seed . lawn are made up of different kinds of grasses — here are just a few :

Choose lawn seed that is a mix of these Grass for the best results . Ashady lawn blendwill work in both sun and wraith , so it is a good choice if you have a lawn that has mixed lighting .

Spread seed equally over the intact lawn , and add some additional in desolate patches . Cover seed with a thin layer of turf soil , a mix of compost and Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin to assure proficient drainage .

Child looking out at an organic lawn

For Modern lawns , seed 3 times in the spring , for instance , March , April , and May . To replete in the lawn , source 2 times in the spring .

4. Mow and Fertilize

Keep lawn at 2”-3 ” long to promote vigorous growth and preclude weeds . fertilise your lawn naturally by leave grass clipping on the lawn after mowing . They are rich in atomic number 7 and provide barren fertiliser , everlasting for turf .

Let the dope arise a second longer and go to come before you ignore it , and you have now also seed your lawn in the process !

5. Water

One simple mental testing you could try out is to go without watering your lawn for a whole year . Once you do this , you will cursorily watch if the lawn is the right choice for your area . If the lawn ca n’t live on without a mass of supply water throughout the season , then mean about changing it out .

Some option includeground covers , aboriginal coinage , or even eatable gardens ( more on this is described at the end of this clause ) .

If you must water your lawn , limit it to 1 ” of water once a weekto advertise deep roots that will ask less urine and maintenance . Measure piss by localise a cup or a jolt on the lawn and label the cup 1 ” from the bottom as the fill wrinkle .

how to pH soil test at home

6. Aerate

If the filth is compact and needs relaxation , you canpierce the sod with a pitchfork in the gloaming , then circularise turf filth and rake to fill it in . This does n’t need to be done every yr . Every 3 - 4 yearsor as needed is sufficient .

Keep in mind that any aeration also invites dormant skunk cum to become dynamic again , so aeration should only be used when grease is clearly too compact to thrive .

With these steps for constituent lawn care , I maintain a pocket-size and lush while of grass in my yard . It is surrounded by flowering and edible gardens . One day , it may be removed forever . For now , though , I have a endearing constituent lawn .

clover eco lawn

Grass Alternatives to Try

If your grass ca n’t easily be managed in your 1000 using these tips , then it might be fourth dimension to consider supersede your lawn . Here are some alternative ground covers to try on :

Additionally , many seed fellowship also make an eco - lawn alternativefull of brave plant mixture that are perfect for lawn surrogate as they command less mowing and water , and can survive foot dealings .

I will yell from all rooftops aboutmy wildflower lawn . It ’s one of the most middle - catching and low - maintenance lawn choice . I did n’t mow it or water it ONCE the integral year I had it . And every single person who walks by ca n’t help but admire all the blossom .

orange reel mower going over lawn

Or why not twist your lawn into garden ? Here are some pourboire onconverting lawn into garden beds without wastefulness .

Oh , and if you are wait for a elbow room to prevent dogs from destroy the grass by doing their ‘ line of work , ’ then arrest out this clause onbuilding a flushable dog running game .

Organic Lawn Care FAQ

It is totally natural and goodly for grass to sour browned in the estrus of summer . Grasses do not wish heat and will go dormant in very hot weather to protect the plant life . The best agency to deal with this is to accept that lawns will brown in the summertime and grow greenish again when the temperature cools . Save weewee and appropriate the plants to thrive by plump for their lifelike hertz , not foreclose it .

Compost is gross garden gold . It help to build up nutrients , increase H2O retention , and improve dirt structure . I add together it to all parts of my garden , from bed and container to my alternative lawn . You canmake it yourselfusing kitchen and garden scraps or bribe it inexpensively from your metropolis or a local garden center . There are plenty of other soil amendments you may consider adding , listed here .

More Lawn Care Tips

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GROWING GREEN_ The Essential Guide to ORGANIC Lawn Care