8 Sustainable, Organic Practices for Greener Lawn Care
Ditch the pesticides and fertilizers and adopt eco-friendly practices that will keep your lawn lush and healthy
When thinking about your lawn care routine, consider what’s required to keep the grass looking its best. Do you need to apply fertilizers and pesticides, which can wash away to pollute local waterways, expose your family to harmful chemicals and create an ecological desert for local wildlife? In contrast, organic gardening methods, such as core aeration, deep watering and fighting pests with beneficial organisms, help support healthy ecosystems. Plus, mowing less frequently can encourage more-resilient grass plants and help conserve resources.
Instead of reaching for the fertilizer when your lawn has brown spots, patchy areas or generally doesn’t look as lush and green as you’d like, take a look at the following ways you can improve both the health and appearance of your lawn in a sustainable way. If you live in a drought-prone area, have you considered reducing the size of your lawn or replacing it with a lower-water native grass blend?
Instead of reaching for the fertilizer when your lawn has brown spots, patchy areas or generally doesn’t look as lush and green as you’d like, take a look at the following ways you can improve both the health and appearance of your lawn in a sustainable way. If you live in a drought-prone area, have you considered reducing the size of your lawn or replacing it with a lower-water native grass blend?
1. Aerate the Soil
Lawns receive frequent foot traffic, even if just from mowing, and very little seasonal aeration. This can lead to compacted soil and poor lawn health. If you can’t stick a trowel in your lawn, it’s likely time to aerate. “I may look at [a lawn that is performing poorly] and see that there’s an issue with compaction,” Armillei says. She recommends treating compaction through core aeration to help air reach the roots of the turf. Then, she says she would top-dress the lawn with organic compost and overseed to promote denser turf growth.
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Lawns receive frequent foot traffic, even if just from mowing, and very little seasonal aeration. This can lead to compacted soil and poor lawn health. If you can’t stick a trowel in your lawn, it’s likely time to aerate. “I may look at [a lawn that is performing poorly] and see that there’s an issue with compaction,” Armillei says. She recommends treating compaction through core aeration to help air reach the roots of the turf. Then, she says she would top-dress the lawn with organic compost and overseed to promote denser turf growth.
Shop for core aerators and other gardening tools
2. Water Less Often, More Deeply
Overwatering leads to “lazy” turf roots that are close to the surface of the soil, where they can absorb frequent irrigation. Watering less often but more deeply causes the grasses to put energy into growing deeper roots to search for water. This leads to more resilient lawn grass that is better able to withstand drought. To wean a lawn off frequent water, postpone watering until you start to see the first signs of stress — yellowing grass — and then water deeply.
Overwatering leads to “lazy” turf roots that are close to the surface of the soil, where they can absorb frequent irrigation. Watering less often but more deeply causes the grasses to put energy into growing deeper roots to search for water. This leads to more resilient lawn grass that is better able to withstand drought. To wean a lawn off frequent water, postpone watering until you start to see the first signs of stress — yellowing grass — and then water deeply.
3. Rake In Compost
Compost and compost tea work to add nutrients back to the soil, creating stronger, healthier turf. In early fall, apply a relatively thin (about 1 inch) layer of compost over turf grass, ideally after core-aeration (which leaves handy holes for the compost), and then rake it into the grass to help it settle. Water to help it sink in. Compost tea or other organic lawn amendments can be added throughout the growing season, according to package directions.
Compost and compost tea work to add nutrients back to the soil, creating stronger, healthier turf. In early fall, apply a relatively thin (about 1 inch) layer of compost over turf grass, ideally after core-aeration (which leaves handy holes for the compost), and then rake it into the grass to help it settle. Water to help it sink in. Compost tea or other organic lawn amendments can be added throughout the growing season, according to package directions.
4. Mow Less Frequently
Allowing grasses to grow taller between mowing can help improve turf health and create more resilient plants that can go longer between waterings. Plus, if you’re using an electric or gas-powered mower, passing on mowings can help conserve resources — and save you a garden chore.
Allowing grasses to grow taller between mowing can help improve turf health and create more resilient plants that can go longer between waterings. Plus, if you’re using an electric or gas-powered mower, passing on mowings can help conserve resources — and save you a garden chore.
5. Leave Grass Clippings Where They Fall
Instead of raking up grass clippings, go ahead and leave them on the turf, where the tiny pieces will break down and add nutrients back to the soil. Similarly, in fall you can set a lawn mower on the “mulch” setting and go over a scattering of fallen leaves on the grass to add additional organic material to the lawn.
Instead of raking up grass clippings, go ahead and leave them on the turf, where the tiny pieces will break down and add nutrients back to the soil. Similarly, in fall you can set a lawn mower on the “mulch” setting and go over a scattering of fallen leaves on the grass to add additional organic material to the lawn.
6. Overseed Bare Areas
If areas of your lawn look worn, or the turf is less full than you’d like, try overseeding, when grass seed is planted directly in an existing lawn. “Overseeding creates a denser stand of turf, which can out-compete weeds,” Armillei says. Overseeding is best done in spring or early fall.
If areas of your lawn look worn, or the turf is less full than you’d like, try overseeding, when grass seed is planted directly in an existing lawn. “Overseeding creates a denser stand of turf, which can out-compete weeds,” Armillei says. Overseeding is best done in spring or early fall.
To overseed, start by mowing the lawn with the lawnmower set to a low height. Then, scatter lawn seed mixed with sand evenly over the existing turf and top with a thin layer of compost. (If you’re already applying a layer of compost to fertilize, it can be a great time to reseed.) Rake thoroughly to help the seeds make their way through the turf and make contact with soil. Then, water consistently until seeds germinate — which can be from seven to 21 days, depending on growing conditions.
7. Fight Pests Organically
Pests, such as ants and beetles, can be treated with beneficial insects rather than pesticides. Some nurseries sell organic pest-control kits that come with nematodes — tiny, worm-like beneficial organisms that prey on garden pests — that can be applied on lawns or other areas of the garden.
Fungal infections in a lawn can be treated through mechanical methods such as raking and mowing.
Pests, such as ants and beetles, can be treated with beneficial insects rather than pesticides. Some nurseries sell organic pest-control kits that come with nematodes — tiny, worm-like beneficial organisms that prey on garden pests — that can be applied on lawns or other areas of the garden.
Fungal infections in a lawn can be treated through mechanical methods such as raking and mowing.
8. Switch to No-Mow Native Grasses or Meadow Blends
If you’re considering replacing your lawn or planting a new one, consider what type of turf makes the most sense for your climate, site (sun exposure and soil type) and use case (amount of foot traffic). There are pluses and minuses to each type of turf.
Generally, no-mow turf mixes have a beautiful, fluid look and require less water than traditional turf and fewer mowings — although you often can crop them short if a more traditional look is what you’re after.
If you’re considering replacing your lawn or planting a new one, consider what type of turf makes the most sense for your climate, site (sun exposure and soil type) and use case (amount of foot traffic). There are pluses and minuses to each type of turf.
Generally, no-mow turf mixes have a beautiful, fluid look and require less water than traditional turf and fewer mowings — although you often can crop them short if a more traditional look is what you’re after.
Native grasses and meadow blends offer the most benefits to native pollinators and wildlife in the form of habitat, food sources and nesting materials. (A traditional turf blend cropped close to the ground is more like a horticultural desert to most pollinators.) Plus, native meadow blends often add color to beds and a lovely, naturalistic look when in bloom. They can be mowed down to a more traditional turf height later on in the season.
A Guide to the Grasses Available for Nontraditional Lawns
A Guide to the Grasses Available for Nontraditional Lawns
Homeowners and pros: Have you adopted any sustainable lawn practices for your home garden or implemented them in projects for clients? Tell us in the Comments.
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More on Houzz
Find more gardening guides
Work with a professional in your area
Shop for lawn and garden supplies
Before you get started, take a look at your lawn and identify any problem areas and potential underlying causes so you can solve them using sustainable methods. “I’m not simply switching out one product for another,” says Philadelphia-based landscape designer Lee Armillei of Athyrium Design, who specializes in sustainable landscape design. “It’s more about looking at the landscape as a whole, identifying why a problem is occurring and finding a way to rectify the current issue.”
Don’t have any existing lawn problem areas? Lucky you! Switching from chemical to organic lawn care can keep your lawn looking good and help support a healthy ecosystem. Read on to discover what to add to your lawn care routine.
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