Over the course of the last few years we have increasingly heard about the need to go green and the drastic problems we are facing with our environment. But even before those reports we saw a huge influx of people going organic. What started as a want to eat healthier quickly turned into farmers also reverting to organic methods. However, what about those people who want to go a bit further and participate in going green?
Have you ever heard about organic lawn care? You may be surprised to learn just how harmful normal lawn care practices can be to the environment, especially those that take pride in their lawns. The more they love it, the more harmful the affects are. Some of the effects are the excess water used to water the lawn up to thousands of gallons a year for some and the chemicals to kill weeds and make the lawn grow are especially harmful to the environment, as well as to insects and critters that live around it.
Going organic is a lot easier than most people imagine as it simply means using natural methods to control growth and the health of your lawn and plants. If you really want to help out the environment then consider choosing organic lawn care, the following is a brief guide to do your part.
If you want a really strong plant base in your yard, consider using native plants. Plants that usually grow in that area tend to do so easier without the need of fertilizers.
For watering purposes, use what comes naturally. There are many ways to catch any rainfall that you have and then that can be used to water your lawn. Not only will catching this rainfall save the use of excess water, but for those on public systems, it can save you a significant amount of water.
Short lawns can be the worse culprit for a bad lawn. Most people believe that if they cut it short they won’t have to care for it as often. However, a short lawn promotes weed growth as well as lawn and soil damage. Keeping your lawn at a proper height will go far in helping it look and be healthier, and therefore the need to add chemicals and excessive water will be taken away. A good guide is 1.5 to 3 inches depending on what type of grass you have. What’s more, keeping your clippings on the lawn is the perfect natural fertilizer. This may mean clipping more often, but the results are an easy way to practice organic lawn care.
If you still feel the need to add a fertilizer, consider other organic choices. Such types of organic fertilizers do not contain chemicals, only natural products like fish emulsion, corn, alfalfa, and other grains.
Go compost! Composting is a wonderful way to help provide your lawn with the nutrients it craves. And what’s more, it works as more of a global way to protect the environment as the excess foods do not end up at the landfill.