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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Franklin Neave | Posted under Landscaping Gardening
Why Choose Organic Lawn Care
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Developers and home owners have the power to restore the quantity and quality of the plants and wildlife of the area. Plants and vegetation absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen renewing the air around you. Plants capture pollutants and dust and purify the air that you breath and vegetation helps stop erosion. Part of organic care is putting the right plants in the right place. Start with a plan. Draw a picture of your yard and mark the location of existing trees, gardens, and buildings. Mark which areas get sunshine and when, and which areas get shade. This is very important in aiding you in choosing the correct plants for the area. If you want a trouble free garden just choose native plants. Native plants will require virtually no attention which means less watering, chemical treatments, and overall pampering. If they are native to the area they'll just happily grow unassisted. Of course native plants aren't completely indestructible but they are much hardier than plants that aren't from the area. They are also more likely to survive all the local weather conditions be that freezing temperatures, draught, or heat. Grass is a big part of your outdoor living experience and often considered part of the garden but it is also the most difficult to deal with. It is always wise to choose grasses that are functional related to where you live, soil conditions, exposure to sun, water availability, and winter conditions. Did you know that 50% of all residential water usage during the summer is related to watering of lawns. This is not only a waste of a valuable resource it is hard on the pocket book. One way to reduce the amount of water used is to reduce the size of your lawn. Less lawn also means less maintenance. Rather than sticking with the plans of the builder why not make your lawn more functional? Add patios, decks, gravel areas, padded areas, and flower beds to replace areas of grass which are really non functional. Ground cover also works well in areas where using a lawn mower can be difficult or in areas where grass isn't likely to grow well. Mowing your grass is one of the most time consuming maintenance tasks you have. Using the grass clippings on your lawn can be very beneficial. Don't mow your lawn too short because this will discourage the roots from growing deep and cause stress. You should also not let it grow too tall or the clippings will be too long to leave on the grass. When it is hot and dry always raise the blade a little higher and always mow over leaves to that they decompose with your clippings providing organic fertilization for your lawn. If you have too many grass clippings collect them and add to your compost. A mulching mower can be really helpful in grass cycling. You just replace the regular blade on your mower with a mulching blade. There are many benefits to this method. It will make your grass much tougher and a lot greener and it stops the development of many of the common turf diseases. It also reduces the amount of fertilizer you will need because the process itself provides 2 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn per year. Your soil is very important to having a lawn that's healthy. In fact it is really the foundation of your grass serving as the anchor for the roots. Your lawn needs a healthy balance that promotes grown while protecting from pests. There are many different soil types which include gravel, sandy loam, rock, clay, silt, and loam. All soils are made up of 5 main components which include living organisms, air, water, minerals, and organic matter. For your soil to be healthy it needs approx. 65% calcium, 20% magnesium, and 5% potassium with a pH around 6.5. Chemical fertilizers can actually negatively affect the condition of the soil leaving you with sterile soil that is useless for growing. Composting will provide you with the greenest grass imaginable. One third of the materials that land in landfills are actually garden clippings and kitchen waste. That's a real shame since both are perfect for composting. If everyone composted you could reduce your waste to almost zero. Backyard composting replicates nature where organic material is broken down on the forest floor. Whether the decomposition takes place in the woods or in your backyard it's the same process. Composting is a complex pattern that involves many different organisms such as worms, insects, fungus, and bacteria. Compost will help sand soils hold water and fluff up clay soils. It will provide a slow release of nutrients that stimulate root growth and it will suppress the spread of disease and pests. It also helps restore an optimum pH level to the soil. When it is time to water your grass you need to remember less is more. If you water with too heavy of a spray most goes to waste as the grass and plants are unable to absorb. Saturate but with a low pressure so that the water has a chance to absorb to a depth of about 10 inches and water early in the morning to minimize evaporation. Organic lawn care will enhance the soil and reduce the toxicity of your soil and lawn. It's certainly a win all the way around! About The Author: Franklin Neave work in fertilizer producing industry for last 10 years. He has recently developed interest in writing and have expressed his experience on his website at http://www.fertilizerworld.com about different types of fertilizer and their benefits. |
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