The best defense against harmful weeds and insects for an organic lawn is simply to have a healthy lawn. When utilizing organic lawn care, without pesticides and chemicals, you want your lawn to regulate itself without too much intervention. Preventatives are always better than dealing with the problem when it happens, so be sure to use these techniques.
- Let your grass grow tall, around 3 to 4 inches. Mowing high and keeping your grass high will maximize its sunlight intake and prevent weeds from cropping up.
- Consider using a reel mower opposed to the rotary mower. The reel style cuts the grass instead of tearing at it like a rotary mower. This tearing can bruise your grass and hinder growth.
- Clovers are great for your lawn. Many people consider them weeds, but they actually help to add nitrogen to your soil, in effect feeding your grass.
- Compost is your friend. Adding an inch or so or compost every year can keep your yard’s soil nutrient rich and grub free.
- Seeding the bald or thin spots in your lawn will prevent weeds from gaining a foothold and help your grass to regrow in bare spots.
- Get a protection plan. Using Simply Organic Turf Care as a preventative is an easy way to protect your organic lawn without having to do any of the work yourself.
If you’re in the unfortunate situation where you have to deal with problems in your lawn now, have no fear, there are just as many solutions to fixing problems as there are to preventing them.
- Dandelions – While many people consider them pretty, they are a weed like any other. Repeatedly removing their leaves and flowers will eventually starve the root and kill it.
- Weeds – Unfortunately, one of the only ways to get rid of weeds other than using chemicals or a Simply Organic lawn application is to pull them out yourself. Remember that the root of the weed is what you need to get out, so dig deep and make sure to get the entire weed, or else it might return.
- Grubs –By watering your lawn and keeping it healthy, it will develop a deep root system keeping the grubs out of your yard. If the problem continues, handpicking the grubs out your grass can get the majority of them out of your lawn quickly.
- Fire Ants – These painful pests are a common problem in the south, especially in Georgia so getting rid of them as soon as possible is key. An easy way to stick to an organic lawncare plan while effectively combating the infestation is an application of Diatomaceous Earth to all visible anthills.
While using preventatives is always easier than dealing with an issue once it comes big enough to warrant your attention, always remember that no lawn is perfect, so don’t drive yourself crazy trying to get rid of every single weed.
photo credit: Suburban life via photopin (license)