Learning What Organic Means  

Starting/Maintaining A Lawn

Trees, Shrubs, And Perennials

Vegetable Gardening And Edible Plants

Organic Amendments

  Frequently Asked Questions

Safety concerns

Start a lawn

Maintain a lawn

Options to lawn

The American lawn has become an ideal dream for most citizens. The amount spent to mantain the vast expanses of green as well as the pollution created is on a massive scale. Furthermore, the chemicals used can be harmful to wildlife, pets, and children. A lawn can be lush, weed-free and easier to mantain organically. Be forewarned however; the transition to organic will require patience and nurturing the lawn.

Starting a lawn organically can be much easier and faster if sod is used rather than seeding. Make sure the sod used is disease and pest free and water frequently until the sod is settled in. Seeding can be done, but results will take much more time and careful attention to weeds. However, the first step for any organic landscaping is planning.

1.) Decide where your lawn will be. Make sure the spot has enough sun, can be easily mowed, and is purposeful. Growing grass under heavy shade trees or on a steep slope can cause further problems. Make sure to leave areas around trees to ease mowing and give the tree protection. Planting on smooth, level sites helps mowing and drainage. Also, plan for pathways and avoid tight angles.

2.) Decide on the type of grass to plant. I have included a page on types of grasses; make sure to pick one that likes the climate, and can perform well for the purpose intended. For instance, a heavily used lawn might require perennial ryegrass while a drought prone lawn might require tall fescue. Click on the link to learn more about grasses.

3.)Soil test. The most important aspect of organic landscaping is understanding soil and nurturing that soil. A test will show the pH (acidity of soil), what nutrients are missing, the amount of water the soil can hold, drainage properties, and basic health of the soil. If done by a testing service, ask for reccomendations on what organic amendments to use. Most likely, you will need to add nutrients and organic matter. Of course, the best organic matter is your own compost, which is discussed in the trees and shrubs section.

4. Make sure to level out he lawn area after the soil is amended and tilled, and make sure to let it settle for a few days and recieve some water. Now you are ready to begin laying sod or spreading seed. If seed is used, combine with annual ryegrass to help with weeds and erosion and cover with straw or hay. Both types will need considerable amounts of water to establish, and should never dry out until rooted. Make sure to stay off the lawn area and do not mow until growth is at 4 inches, and mow very high at first.

Maintaining a lawn organically can take less inputs and less time once the practice is established. Lawns swithced off of chemicals take about 2-3 years to rejuvenate and begin a thriving vigourous growth that encourages deeper root growth and healthier grass that is more disase, pest, and weed resistant. I have listed several practices that when practiced together will achieve a natural, organic lawn.

- Change mowing techniques- Mow the grass when it needs it, not on a set schedule. Do not cut off more than the top 1/3 of the blade. Taller grass will grow slower, shades out weeds easier, protect the crown from injury, has more photosyntesis capability, and encourages a depper root system. Only mow when dry and have a sharp blade.

-Change water techniques- A longer soak is better than a quick spray, but do not water too long. Each certain soil can only hold so much before becoming saturated. Water so the first few inches of soil are wet, and do not water until the top inch is dry. To prevent disease, water in the morning so the blades can dry.

-Keep grass clippings on the yard, they can provide extra nutirients

-At the same time, monitor the thatch in you lawn, which consists of the decaying material covering the roots of the soil. Too much thatch can harbor insects and deprive the lawn of water and nutrients. At the beginning of an organic program, thatch will need to be raked up is thick.

-Aeration is important in the health of the soil- the microorganisms and other insects are slowly helping the process below, and aerating further adds aeration. You can use a large roller that takes out clumps or just use spikes to aerate the lawn.

-Adding organic amendments to the lawn is what will bring back the natural, deep rooted healthy grass that is superior to chemical dependence. Organic matter brings nutrients and helps soil structure and soil microbes; if not compost there are several other possibilities which are explained in the amendments section. A top-dressing of rich humus should be a must every year, as well as overseeding thin areas.

-Pests and diseases, even with the right grass picked and the right organic procedures, can be a pain. Observation for the first signs of pests is necessary. Pests can be eliminated quickly if found when first attacking. Sticky paper can catch pests and show an early alert to bad insects. Also keeping the area clean and sanitized will help keep diseases and pests away.

-weeds are defeated through proper maintenance; it is important to not let weeds go to seed and to know which ones are annuals and perennials. Never till weeds, and try to get the whole root system when pulling them.

There are various options and reasons to not have a lawn. A simple path through the garden or a bench area may be all the area you need to use. Or perhaps a lawn of groundcover will beautify the area and reduce countless hours of maintainence.

Some good groundcovers to consider are:

Japanese pachysandra, sweet woodruff, wintercreeper euonymous, periwinkle, yellow archangel, or epimedium.