Learning About Landscaping Materials

Posted on: 8 September 2021

If you're like most homeowners, you're all for anything that reduces the amount of pesticide and herbicide chemicals in your yard and garden areas, but you also like the idea of having a lush, green lawn. Many people believe that this type of lawn can't be achieved without the use of commercially prepared lawn care products that contain chemical components. However, it's entirely possible to grow a beautiful lawn without using chemical-based fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Following are five strategies that make organic lawn care easier than you think.

Use a High Mower Height

Letting your grass grow a little longer than usual provides great natural weed control — weeds seeds won't germinate so well under the added shade provided by longer grass. The added shade also helps minimize evaporation, which means you won't need to water as often. You'll also need to mow your lawn less often, resulting in reduced usage of fossil fuels. 

Don't Rake Up Grass Clippings

Grass clippings that are left on the lawn after mowing provide the soil with additional nutrients as they decompose, which minimizes or eliminates the need for commercial fertilizer. The clippings also provide a layer of shade that discourages the growth of weed seeds. 

Choose the Right Type of Grass

Choosing the right kind of grass seed mixture in the first place is more than half the battle when it comes to growing an organic lawn. Lawn seed mixtures are designed to perform best under specific conditions. For instance, some grass seed mixtures were developed for use in high traffic areas, while others are designed to provide lawns for shady yards. Lawn seed mixtures are also developed with climate conditions in mind, so be sure to choose one that's formulated for your specific geographical location to help ensure optimal growing conditions. 

Make Sure Your Mower Blades Are Sharp 

Sharp mower blades provide a clean cut that minimizes damage to the individual blades of grass, which helps keep viral and fungal pathogens as well as insects and pests away. When grass tissues are damaged by dull mower blades, it makes it easier for pathogens and insects to access the vascular systems of the individual blades.

Have Your Lawn Area Leveled

Low-lying spots in lawns serve as a melting pot for the formation of all manner of fungal pathogens — and these pathogens can spread throughout the lawn if left unchecked. Having your lawn area leveled will prevent the formation of damp spots caused by runoff.

It's important to provide proper care for your lawn. For more information, contact a company that provides things like organic yard care.