A healthy lawn is like a healthy body. It requires not only good nutrition, sunlight, and freedom to grow, but also careful maintenance!
In the same way as you might keep your body healthy by avoiding junk food, treating your lawn organically without harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers can have a fantastic impact on its health—along with the health of the animals and people that enjoy it.
Here a few just a few of the ways that organic lawn care can be beneficial.
Safer for people
Exposing people to synthetic chemicals via your lawn is unnecessary. The effect of chemicals is often unknown but several studies have shown they can be disastrous.
In Ohio, nearly 50 school kids developed poisoning symptoms after herbicides were sprayed near their school.
Top scientists have warned about the effects of popular weed spray Roundup, which is thought to cause high rates of miscarriages in animals—and potentially people.
All in all, using organic lawn care methods is the most responsible way to ensure that all those who come into contact with your lawn remain as safe as possible
Healthier for pets and wildlife
Lawns and gardens are a critical home for wildlife, which is often escaping from agricultural fields laden with pesticides.
Beetles, insects and worms will live on your lawn, and attract small birds like sparrows that feed on them. In turn, you may also find larger predators visiting your lawn like birds of prey or large mammals.
This ecosystem is necessary for the health of your lawn, and the health of all animals using your lawn – including the family cat or dog.
And yet, it is fragile. Chemicals in synthetic lawn care can damage insect life, or bird life, and send a ripple effect though the whole ecosystem.
In Oregon, several dogs died after eating paraquat herbicide, and even small amounts may have adverse effects on health.
Better for the environment
Lawn chemicals often do no not remain on your lawn, and can run off into streams or water bodies, harming aquatic life and contaminating the water.
This can cause a process called eutrophication where the minerals and nutrients in the fertilizer induce algae growth, which then overwhelms the pond or stream and creates a depletion of oxygen levels, killing fish.
You can avoid this by carefully applying natural lawn care products, or simply relying on mulching and careful cutting to keep your lawn healthy.
Gas—or petrol for UK readers—is also particularly damaging to water bodies if it leaks in. Old petrol mowers can sometimes develop leaks, and careless filling of fuel can cause splashes.
Save money
Sometimes organic care can mean extra effort, but you are likely to save money.
There is no need to buy expensive chemicals or retail pesticides. Instead, simply use natural materials that are free. For example, by taking advantage of mulching and recycling grass clippings instead of rushing out to the store.
Bonus tip!
One of the best ways to make your grass healthier, naturally, is by adjusting the height of grass by cutting high.
Simply set your mower to cut higher. It is not necessary to have a bowling green lawn.
More surface on the blades of grass means more area exposed to sun for photosynthesis, meaning more nutrients, healthier roots, and grass that is able to effectively curb low growing weeds.
To cut effectively at a high setting, you will need to keep the blade sharp, cut regularly, and avoid cutting in the wet.
For an even healthier lawn, naturally, regularly aerate your lawn to loosen the soil and increase air circulation.
About the author
Landscape architect and lawnmower enthusiast Laurence Bennet believes that sustainable gardening could play a key role in tackling environmental challenges. Visit his site at http://lawnmowerlarry.co.uk/ for everything on mowing and lawns.