More About Organic Lawn Care
In our previous article we took a look at a couple of things you can do to make your lawn look great without the use of chemicals and in the following article we shall be taking a looks at some of the other things you can do and some of the products available for organic lawn care.
In the previous article we introduced you to a simple technique of keeping the weeds down but sometimes you will need a little help. Of course you can employ the services of a landscape gardening contractor but there really isn't that much work involved, even if you choose to do it organically.
Get Nature To Care For Your Lawn
Organic lawn care is increasing in popularity for a variety of reasons but one of the main ones is that more and more people want to work with nature to attract more wildlife, such as butterflies, into their garden. Many other creatures can be harmed by chemicals including those that live in and enhance the quality of the soil so the sooner you change to natural products the better.
To ensure that the roots of your grass grow well and the worms can do their work it is vital that you make sure that the ground does not become compact. Making sure your soil is in tip top shape can make a world of difference to your lawn. Creatures such as Nemotodes (microscopic worms) should be encouraged as they feed on the larvae of grubs which could, when fully grown, seriously damage the roots of grass.
Suitable Products
It is possible to keep weeds at bay using an organic lawn care product which contains corn gluten meal. Many places claim that corn gluten meal is the only organic material proven to be an effective organic herbicide but I remember that my grandfather used to use various organic homemade mixtures in his garden. He used to put salt and vinegar into boiling water and immediately apply it to problem areas. I seem to remember that he used about a quart of water, two or three teaspoons of salt and five of vinegar but he sometimes added liquid soap (about 4 teaspoons).
The above mixture can also be used as an insecticidal spray but my granddad used to keep his rhubarb leaves in a separate watering can and periodically he would use it on the lawn and garden with the smelly liquid. I am sure he said it was to kill the "wee creepy crawlies". You can add a little liquid soap if you like as this proves a great spray to use against greenfly.
NOTE: When using rhubarb leaves be very careful as they are poisonous to us too and can cause serious problems - DO NOT get them anywhere near your mouth.
I have a great many other organic lawn care hints, tips and recipes so I am planning to extend this section early next year.
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