Think Green: Chemical-free Lawns
Non-toxic, Environmentally Friendly Ways of Keeping Your Lawn Green
Is your lawn green? Not just in appearance, but environmentally?
Growing health and environmental concerns have some people turning to the search of organic, nontoxic lawn care alternatives.
Fertilizers provide nutrients that may not be supplied by the soil, but excess nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizers can be a huge source of water pollution. An eco-friendly, non-toxic lawn is initially more labor-intensive as you are focusing on restoring the soil. Once you have healthy soil, it is lower maintenance and cost-effective.
Going organic means a change from a quick fix to a long-term approach. Instead of relying on a chemical mix to kill weeds, natural material is used to improve soil biology so weeds and pests get less of a foothold.
! Organic Lawn Care Tips
Here are some easy ways to add nutrients to your soil that are safe for the environment:
1 Build Good Soil
Healthy soil, rich in organic matter, grows healthier plants and reduces the need for additional fertilizers. Add compost to your soil to improve soil quality and increase populations of beneficial organisms.
2 Powdered Kelp
Powdered kelp (a kind of seaweed) can be used to fertilize the lawn and stimulate plant growth naturally.
3 Corn Gluten
Controls crabgrass in the spring. Corn gluten is a protein-based portion of corn that keeps seeds from sprouting. It takes several years to work, unlike chemical herbicides that kill crabgrass immediately.
4 Epsom Salts
Use Epsom Salts on your lawn and in your garden to safely get rid of plant pests without harmful chemicals.