Maintaining an Organic Garden Lawn

The first step in embarking on an organic lawn is to check its pH level. This tests the acidity. The test indicates the acidity (pH).

Some garden testing kits will offer much more than this including the presence of key nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), micronutrients, and organic matter. It'll point out any important deficiencies, which you can then take steps to correct.

If your soil test indicates low organic activity in your soil which is fairly common in 'sandy' areas, you can top-dress with 1/4 inches of compost at the beginning and end of the season. Over time this will lead to a gradual improvement in the soil, the plants that live there, and the overall appearance of your garden.

Healthy soil requires lots of biological activity in the form of earthworms and microorganisms. Biological activity requires adequate organic matter to flourish. After the ground has recovered from the winter, rake the debris off the lawn. Then aerate your lawn. You can use a machine which will make the task much easier.

Aeration helps to alleviate the compaction caused by winter snows, gravity and the compression from everyday garden lawn usage. The soil gets an injection of oxygen, which promotes activity in soil organisms and helps subsequent fertilizations penetrate deeper to root systems.

Set your lawn mower to mow at a cutting height of at least 3 inches. This obviously wont give you the bowling green finish, but it will reduce weed growth. Extensive research has shown that cutting high has many benefits for the organic garden lawn. Many weeds are simply choked out. Root systems develop to provide drought-resistance and hardiness. Insect and disease problems are also minimized. All round a healthier lawn and garden.

Keep your lawn mower blades sharp. Sharp blades mean clean cuts and fewer openings for disease and insect infestations.

To maintain an ideal pH level of 6.5 - 6.7, typically apply 30 lbs of pelletised lime per 1,000 sq.ft. Pelletised lime costs a little more but is easier to apply than powder. Reduce your cutting height for the final lawn mowings, according to our recommendations above.

Remove remaining leaves from lawn, or just attach a grass collection box to your mower, chop them up, and add them to your compost pile.