Description of Action:
ORGANIC LAWN CARE TRANSITION
Whether you have a 100% organic lawn program, a hybrid version, or a conventional one sprinkled with some organic treatments; there are long- term cost benefits to using non mainstream lawn products. For instance, a healthier soil requires less long- term inputs such as fertilizer. Even though the cost per treatment can generally be more upfront to get your lawn to where you want it to be, the savings come after 3-4 years of following an organic approach.
The core philosophy of organic lawn care begins with the soil and what lives within it; mainly living things. A healthy soil should be filled with various bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microscopic friends. The soil itself should contain organic matter which assists in water retention and provides a food source for our microscopic workers. As our friends breakdown organic matter in the soil, vital nutrients and minerals are released and become available to our lawn. A healthy soil will also have air pockets to help support plant roots ranging from trees and shrubs to of course, our lawns.
A lawn with air pockets and organic matter is less likely to be compacted and is more likely to hold onto anything applied to your lawn, from fertilizers to lime or other treatments. Conversely, a sandy soil with lower organic matter or a compacted soil like those containing a high amount of clay are more likely to have runoff or allow products to move into or toward ground water. As you can see, soil health and structure is very important when it comes to growing plants and can be the root of all problems, no matter how much money you throw at your landscape.
If your soil is out of balance, your lawn will be more susceptible to many issues ranging from disease, insects, weed infestation and more. Soil health must be the foundation of any sound lawn care program. Organic applications are simply the real deal in terms of improving the overall health of your lawn’s soil.
