Organic Lawn Care - Go GREEN in 2012!

Organic fertilizer is one of the best options for safely fertilizing your lawn and garden. Slowly but surely, chemical-based fertilizers are becoming less popular as more Americans learn and understand how unsafe and environmentally unfriendly chemical fertilizers are. Organic lawn care is part of a more "green" (environmentally safe and friendly), natural approach to gardening; lawn care and using organic fertilizer falls under this natural gardening approach.

Organic lawn care basically takes a holistic, preventative approach to gardening and lawn care rather than reacting to various gardening problems by using chemical pesticides or herbicides. By building healthy soil, many of the problems with lawns are avoided, eliminating the need for poisons and harsh reactionary measures.

What Exactly is Lawn Fertilizer?

Fertilizer is any substance, such as manure or a mixture of nitrates, used to make soil more fertile. Organic lawn fertilizers, which are known for their slow-release capabilities (chemical fertilizers release nutrients rapidly which is not as beneficial to the soil), benefit the soil as well as your grass. These fertilizers work to improve soil structure and have long-lasting beneficial effects on soil microbes.

Organic Fertilizers Vs. Chemical Fertilizer

Here's a comparison which will show how much better organic fertilizer is for your soil.

• Organic = Non-burning (won't harm delicate seedling roots)
• Chemical = May burn plants (and harm delicate seedling roots)
• Organic = Improve soil structure
• Chemical = Leaching can pollute groundwater

• Organic = Increase water-holding capacity
• Chemical = Loss of fertilizer due to leaching means soil requires many applications

• Organic = Increase nutrient holding capacity
• Chemical = Can make soil toxic after continuous use

• Organic = Promotes earthworms and soil micro-organisms
• Chemical = Mineral salts can build up over time and kill off soil microbes

• Organic = Buffers soil from chemical imbalances
• Chemical = High nitrogen levels may repel earthworms

• Organic = Improves soil over time
• Chemical = Over the long run can deplete soil

Types of Organic Fertilizer

Dry Organic Fertilizer: Dry organic fertilizer is often made from rock, phosphate, green-sand, steamed bone meal or kelp, or a combination of these. They are formulated to provide balanced amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus as well as essential micronutrients.

Liquid Fertilizer/ Foliar Fertilizer: Foliar feeding is an alternate method to heavy watering or root drenching of plants. Foliar fertilizer delivers nutrients through the leaves of plants and is sprayed on the plants. This organic fertilizing method is a great way to improve the health of your plants. Keep in mind that liquid foliage fertilizers are excellent for plants already rooted in pots or in your garden, as it allows you to continue feeding your plants after they are established. Liquid fertilizers, sometimes composed of fish emulsion and compost tea, generally have a much quicker release than organic dry fertilizers, so you can save that special plant immediately if need be.

Common Organic Fertilizer Ingredients:

• Bird and animal manures: Good nutrient source and chock-full of microorganisms. Should be well aged or composted before applying directly to the garden.
• Blood meal: Slow-release source of nitrogen plus trace minerals. Apply just before planting and use sparingly.
• Fish meal/emulsion: Source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements. Releases quickly.
• Greensand: Rich in potassium and numerous micronutrients. Can be used to loosen clay soils. Apply 5-10 lbs per 100 square feet.
• Shellfish meal: Strong source of calcium (23%), nitrogen, phosphorus and micro-nutrients. May also be used to inhibit root-knot nematodes.
• Rock phosphate: Great for flowering plants and provides a 10-year phosphate reserve.

Organic fertilizer provides the carbohydrates soil organisms require. Chemicals don’t.  Call Bruce Cumming Landscaping today (978) 458-2145 to take your yard organic!