For the Lawn Obsessed

Welcome back!

Last night as we watched TV I lost my husband for a few minutes as he sat mesmerized watching some lawnmower ad.  I asked if he was looking forward to getting back to cutting the lawn and he said “Yes” with far more passion and excitement than I had seen in a looong time!

It seems he is like many men-folk around the country that get some pleasure and pride in creating and maintaining their lawns.  So in the spirit of the season and to equip you with some info that will grab the attention of the lawn obsessed people in your home, here are some tips.

Clean out your Beds!

I hate doing this but it has to be done.  Dig out and remove thatch buildup in your beds and power-rake your lawn to support new growth.

Avoid Chemical Fertilizers

By now we all know chemical fertilizers are dangerous to our health and that of the environment.  Did you know that over 70 million tons of fertilizers are pesticides are applied to residential lawns and gardens annually?  According to the U.S. National Wildlife Federation in those areas wshere pesticides are used, 60-90% of earthworms are killed–earthworms help to make our soil healthy.

So it’s a good idea to look into ways to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers.  The best way is to keep a healthy lawn that is naturally resistant to weeds.  You can do that by:

• Improving your soil – take a sample of your soil to your local nursery and ask them to give you an assessment of your soil.  They may test the soil’s pH (which should be between 6.5 and 7.0).
• Chosse grasses that are grown locally: If you grow grass that is naturally adapted to your region you shouldn’t have to add a lot of extra nutrients or water to it.
• Mow often but don’t cut the long too short because surface roots will become exposed and cause the soil to dry out faster.
• Water thoroughly but not too often.