The Organic Lawn

Our passion, perhaps for some an obsession with our lawns dates back to a time when not using space to grow food was a sign of wealth, well perhaps not much has changed over the years.

People still devote hours and dollars to maintain a lawn that may look good but requires constant attention and far too many rely on toxic chemicals to keep the green, green.

This is not necessary as there are a number of alternatives.

First we will take a look at how we use our yards. There is a distinct difference between the front yard and the back yard. The back yard serves many purposes; it is a place for pets to roam, a playground for children and a family gathering place for BBQs and picnics. The vegetable garden, if there is one, is most frequently sited in the backyard, often in a remote corner with the composter.

When you consider the range of activities that go on in this green space why would you want to use toxic material to maintain it?

The first step in going chemical free is to determine what uses the back yard serves, i.e. what does your family do there?

The next is ask yourself how much lawn do you need to enjoy these activities/ You may find that you can cut back on lawn space and therefore lawn maintenance if you convert some of that space to a native plant garden for butterflies or habitat for birds by adding a small fruit tree or two or a berry bush.

Or you may want to grow some tomatoes and basil for example. They do well together both in the garden and in the kitchen.

Give some thought to an herb garden near your kitchen door so you do not have to walk very far to collect fresh herbs for your meals.

Once you have determined how much lawn you actually need and made a plan to reduce your lawn space then you can take steps to enjoying a chemical free law.

The most common lawn care activity may well be mowing. One step I suggest is to buy a manual lawn mower, good exercise and no need to gas it up or plug it in.

Here are some basic mowing tips; courtesy ofdelicious organics:

· Mow at the right height for your grass but leave it on the higher end. Three inches tall is a good rule of thumb. The higher the grass, the deeper the root systems, the better the grass can withstand drought, pests, heat, shade, and disease. Mowing is the key to a lush organic lawn.

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· Mow often as the grass grows.

· Never cut off more than 1/3 off the top.

· Let the clippings nourish the soil.

· Keep the blade sharp on your mower.

When it comes to watering your lawn well do so if you must but when you do be sure to water deeply and in the early morning letting your lawn get a good drink before the ehat of the sun dries it out.

Give some though to selecting grasses that need less watering and give even more though to reducing your lawn space to a minimum so that you reduce your need to water and do other maintenance.

Part two will look at grass seed and your front yard.