Graphic for Organic Lawns showing a wheel barrow and garden by a mowed lawn

Organic lawn care offers an incredible range of benefits. It’s cost-effective, environmentally beneficial and looks amazing. This guide will break down the science behind organic lawn care and why it’s the best thing for your yard. From the soil to routine maintenance, we will explore the world of organic gardening.

Understanding Soil Health and Composition

Healthy lawns need healthy soil. The main components of soil are air, mineral matter, organic matter and water. Soil composition depends on the combination of these elements and changes according to soil type. The amount of mineral matter varies in sand, silt and clay. Humous is the name of organic matter in the soil. It’s made of leaf litter and decaying matter.

There are 12 nutrients needed in soil for optimal plant health and growth. These nutrients are divided into primary, intermediate and micronutrients:

Primary nutrients: There are three primary nutrients — nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK). Most commercial fertilizers contain these primary nutrients.
Intermediate: Sulfur, magnesium and calcium are the intermediate nutrients of soil. These primary nutrients are known as macronutrients of soil.
Micronutrients: Micronutrients provide plants with all the other necessary elements to grow. If the balance of micronutrients is off, it will affect the health and growth of your plants.

Good soil is a necessity for maintaining an organic lawn. These are the three most impactful ways in which soil helps plants:

Moisture retention: Water is able to drain through high-quality soil at an ideal rate. This rate needs to be slow enough for plants to absorb the moisture but fast enough to avoid soggy soil.
Aeration: Good soil has a variety of particle sizes. Loosely packed soil like this lets oxygen flow freely.
Nutrient retention: The right balance of clay and inorganic materials enhances nutrients’ ability to cling to the soil. This prevents them from being washed out after the soil is water.

Nurturing a Chemical-Free Lawn

Avoiding pesticides and herbicides is a large part of organic lawn care. By following proper organic lawn care methods, your lawn will naturally resist pests and weeds. The chemicals found in commercial pesticides and herbicides can cause long-term damage to your soil. The harmful chemicals seep into your soil, destroying plants, infiltrating soil and leading to polluted water runoff.

Organic pest control starts by identifying the pest problem. Look at the damage or symptoms of the infestation and treat them. Having a diverse variety of healthy plants can discourage pests and attract birds that feed on insects. Neem oil and sulphur are organic pesticides that are not harmful to humans and pets.

Organic lawns are resistant to weeds. Your healthier soil makes your plants grow more to the point where they can outcompete weeds without harmful chemicals. Weeds can still persist even on a healthy lawn. Spot treatment is the best way to treat the infestation — try pulling weeds or using undiluted white vinegar on the affected areas. Corn gluten meal prevents weed growth, but it kills germinating grass, so be careful where you put it.

Implementing Sustainable Water Practices

An effective watering and irrigation system is vital to good organic lawn care. The timing and amount of water are the most important factors in an effective irrigation system. Watering at 10 a.m. is ideal, as the amount of water lost through evaporation is significantly low at this time. When your grass is left wet overnight, it greatly increases the risk of disease infection.

Lawns need an inch of water a week during growing seasons. During weeks where rainfall exceeds an inch, your lawn will need no further watering. Water your soil enough to make it wet the soil deeply — this is a better organic lawn care method than giving your lawn multiple light waterings. Regular light watering reduces root growth and makes your lawn less resistant to droughts.

Lawn browning is natural during severe heat and droughts. It’s your lawn’s natural response to the harsher conditions. It stops growth and transitions to a period of dormancy to preserve energy and nutrients. Your lawn is capable of tolerating a month of dormancy.

Maintaining a Natural Lawn Year-Round

These tips will help you maintain a pristine natural lawn all year long:

Mowing: Mow your lawn to a height of 2 inches for the first mowing in spring. The next one should be 3 to 4 inches. Avoid removing over one-third of your lawn’s leaf surface every time you mow, as removing more increases water loss. If you want a 2-inch lawn, mow your grass when it is 3 inches. For a 4-inch lawn, mow your grass when it’s 6 inches tall.
Use organic fertilizer: Organic fertilization is done by introducing organic fertilizers to your lawn. It’s made using plants rather than harmful chemicals like commercial fertilizers. Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly, adding more organic matter to your soil. It improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture and absorb more carbon. You can create your own organic fertilizer through composting.
Core aeration: Core aeration is done by creating small holes in your soil by removing plugs of soil and depositing them on the lawn’s surface. These small holes make it easier for your soil to access and retain water, air and nutrients, resulting in a stronger and healthier turf.
Fall leaves: Fallen leaves during autumn can turned into lawn mulch. Set your mower to its highest setting and chop the leaves. Keep the chopped leaves where they are. Avoid letting leaves accumulate to over 6 inches tall. Mow them before it reaches this height.
Organic lawn care services: Hiring an organic lawn care service to maintain your lawn is the most reliable option. The right company will offer services catered to your needs and your lawn. These services include soil amendments, grub and pest control, seeding and aeration and several other vital services to maintain your organic lawn.

OrganicLawns Knows What’s Best for Your Organic Lawn

OrganicLawns will tend to your organic lawn or convert your garden into an organic one. We offer a wide range of services, and we can tailor your services with us to best suit your lawn. We do more than utilize organic lawn care methods — we embody organic lawn care in general. Your garden’s health is our biggest priority. We have the tools and expertise to give you a pristine garden to be proud of.

Explore the world of organic lawn care on our blog. Contact us to get answers to your questions and organize the ideal service for your lawn.