Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips for the Organic Soul

If your desire to grow a lush and health lawn is only second to your commitment to being environmentally conscious, here are some organic lawn care tips that you'll appreciate. From fertilizers to soil balancing agents, these tips are designed to leave the Earth a little bit better than you found it.

Organic lawn care is beginning to catch on across the nation. Harsh and abrasive fertilizers and over watering habits have slowly given way to the use of organic materials and a sense of conservation among homeowners. And this trend couldn't catch on at a better time. We're always struggling to make this land our own without permanently altering its natural beauty and function. 

Designed primarily for cool-season grasses, typically consisting of tall fescues, perennial ryegrasses, and Kentucky bluegrass, these lawn care tips will get the most from your yard without doing damage to the balance of nature.

Organic Lawn Care Tips

• Testing Soil. Testing the pH of your soil is always a good first step in the process. It allows you to identify deficiencies and plan for the problems that may plague your lawn throughout the year.
• Cleaning and Aerating. Cleaning your lawn of debris and weed growth will provide a fresh start for seedlings. Use spiked thong sandals to aerate as opposed to the gas-guzzling machines that are typical for this duty. 
• Organic Herbicide. Apply an herbicide that is made from corn gluten meal. This is currently the only proven pre-emergent organic herbicide on the market. Apply 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
• Organic Fertilizer. Look for blended organic fertilizers that are made from biodegradable materials. A tip for applying organic fertilizer is 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet early to late spring.
• Periodic Mowing. Keep your lawn at a height of three inches throughout the year. You should only cut it shorter than 3 inches at the conclusion of the growing season.

Simple Ways to Go Green and Save $

Recycle

Participate in the weekly curbside recycling program that your city offers to recycle glass, plastic, aluminum, paper and yard debris.

One person's trash is another's treasure:  When you want to dispose of an old item such as furniture or electronics don’t make the dump your first stop. Craigslist has a section for free stuff. Other alternatives are:freecycle.org and earth911.org.

Switch to CFL Lights
Consider using compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They cost a bit more than regular bulbs, but you'll lower your electric bill and pay less in the long run — CFLs last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs and use considerably less energy   If you want to go a step further, install dimmer switches and use timers, indoors and out.

Choose energy-efficient appliances
Look for the Energy Star label, awarded to fridges, washers, and other products that exceed government efficiency standards by using less water or electricity.

Get off junk mail lists
Call the companies that you don’t wish to send you catalogs or junk mail and asked to be removed from their mailing list.  If you don’t have the time to call, write Return To Sender, Remove from Mailing List on the mail and drop it in a mailbox.  The mail will be returned to the sender, and you should be removed from the mailing list.  You can also register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (dmaconsumers.org) and you'll see a significant reduction in unwanted mail after three months.

Support local farms
At eatwellguide.org, you can plug in your zip code and find suppliers of organic and sustainably produced meat, poultry, eggs and more. If you buy locally, you won't have to rely on farms that ship food nationwide, which helps to decrease our dependence on oil and to cut back on gas emissions.

Tote your own grocery bag
Paper or plastic? Neither! At most supermarkets you can purchase your own sack that can be used every time you shop.

Buy Organics
Switch to organic for at least one product that you buy every week.

Compost
The Environmental Benefits of home composting

You will be amazed at how much space you will now have in your bin. Up to 30% of household trash is usually kitchen waste. There are also many further benefits for the environment:

• Reduction in generation of climate changing gases such as methane, produced when organic matter does not break down naturally in a landfill site.

• Reduction in generation of leachate liquid - This can pollute our water courses when washed out from landfill sites.

• Reduction in use of peat-based compost will protect rich and diverse wildlife habitats from destruction.

• Reduced need for chemicals and artificial fertilizers will protect your soil, water and wildlife.
• Increasing life span of existing landfill sites,therefore reducing the need for more.

                                                                          Maple Ridge Wind Farm