Choosing Organic Lawn Care Products
If you want a great lawn you may think there is no way to avoid chemical products. You may also be worried about what chemical pesticides and fertilizers do to the environment or the danger it poses to your family and pets. There is another option, organic lawn care products. Organ lawn care products are safer for the kids and pets while making the environment better.
Have A Healthy Lawn
Good maintenance practices is the first step towards having an excellent organic lawn. Make sure you mow your grass high in order to prevent the grass from burning and to choke out any weeds. By mowing high you will also have a lawn that looks more lush and green. When watering your lawn make sure you do it infrequently and deeply in order to encourage the grass to develop deep roots.
Fertilizers
When it comes to organic lawn care products, fertilizers don't get very high marks. Most fertilizer organic lawn care products smell bad and are difficult to use. However, they are the better option to use when compared to manure. For years golf courses used Milorganite which was a by-product of the Milwaukee sewage treatment plants and today many municipal sewage treatment plants offer similar products. These organic lawn care products are granular fertilizers, although they are approved for use on organic crops according to the official food labeling standards. However, for your home lawn they are an excellent choice. Another great organic fertilizer to use is alfalfa meal, it is easy to spread and doesn't have a bad smell.
Pesticides
Typically you won't have to worry about pest infestations if you have a healthy lawn. But if you do have a pest problem there are organic lawn care products that can help without you having to resort to chemicals. Diatomaceous earth is the best natural option for controlling fleas, slugs and lawn grubs. Many organic pest control products on the market contain this ingredient. Other options for organic lawn care products include those that have neem oil, garlic or pepper sprays and cedar based products.
Weeds
It is very easy to take care of weeds, have a healthy lawn that will choke out the weeds itself. Spot treat with a horticultural or pickling strength vinegar for any particularly stubborn weeds. To avoid killing nearby grass you should paint the leaves rather than spraying. A natural pre-emergent is to treat your lawn in the early spring with corn gluten. However, if you are trying to sprout grass seed then don't use a pre-emergent.
