Natural Lawn Care: The Better Alternative
Every one of us, at one point or another, wished of having a beautiful lawn where we can spend quality time with our family and friends during weekends. What keeps most people from fulfilling this dream is the care needed for lawn maintenance. Most people perceive it as a time-consuming and complex set of activities. The reverse is true, however, for when done regularly, lawn care will prove to be enjoyable and easy.
There are two approaches towards lawn care: (1) use of fertilizers and pesticides and (2) the natural or organic approach. Lawn care specialists would actually recommend the second as doing so keeps the harmful chemicals away from your lawn. The natural method allows you to take care of your lawn while being environmentally friendly. Outlined below are the three main elements involved in natural lawn care.
Mow Efficiently
* Mow High. For better and deeper root development, experts advise that you set mowing height up to 2 inches. There is more crowding out of weeds using such setting.
* Mow Often. Doing the mowing job in bulk actually stresses the grass. Thus, experts advise that during spring, you mow once a week. Also, make sure that at each mowing, you don’t cut the grass to more than one-third of its height.
* Leave the Clippings. After mowing, do not take out the clippings. These will actually turn into useful and efficient fertilizers and help promote greener and denser grass growth. This method, which is also referred to as “grass cycling,” also prevents thatch buildup.
Water Properly
* Water the whole root zone. Be certain that you water the whole root zone and you allow it to partially dry between cycles. This method ensures that root zones are properly moistened, which is essential for healthy grass growth.
* Be wary of the weather. Consider the weather prior to proceeding with watering. Do not engage in such activity if it rains, or rain is about to come. For more information on evapotranspiration and irrigation of lawn in concurrence to weather conditions, refer to Irrigation and Sprinkler Tips.
Use Alternatives of Pesticides
* Uproot weeds and reduce pest damage.
* Do not cover your lawn in its entirety in an attempt to get rid of a few dandelions. When possible, remove weeds by hand during spring or fall.
* Timing is of essence. Be sure to use the right herbicide for the right weed at the right time.
To reiterate, the use of natural lawn care methods allows you to have a healthier lawn without introducing harmful chemicals to the environment. In the long run, an excessive use of fertilizers will actually affect soil and grass quality.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 3:20 pm and is filed under Gardening advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.