Natural alternatives for lawn care
In the 21st century, huge numbers of people all around the world are changing the way they live their lives. Greater understanding of the impact we all have on our environment, and the legacy we leave behind on planet earth is leading millions thinking about how to be more sustainable in and around their homes. Gardening and lawn care are no exception, as more and more people seek natural alternatives to the chemical solutions which have become the norm since the Industrial Revolution.
Lawns are of course a big part of the gardening picture, and here at Lawntech we have always been careful to use sustainable products, as much as possible, such as semi-organic nutrient products which don’t exceed what the grass plant can absorb, hence reducing nutrient over-load which could leach into the soil and waterways. But what about considering a fully organic lawn care programme, and does it really work?
We offer offer a 100% organic alternative in our own Organic Lawn Care Programme. This programme is tried, tested and proven to keep lawns healthy and green through all the seasons without the need for any synthetic chemicals. All the products in our programme are derived from natural, sustainable sources, revolving around refined slow release poultry manure and bio stimulants which break down non-digested organic material in the sward and root zone of the lawn.
In addition to ticking all the environmental boxes, an Organic Lawn Care Programme brings significant benefits to lawns which suffer with poor soil conditions. A summary of the Pros and Cons of organic lawn care follows below, but for more detailed information please visit the Organic Lawn Care Programme’s page on our website:
https://www.lawn-tech.co.uk/lawn-care-services/organic-lawn-care-programme/
Pro’s
Everything used in the programme is 100% naturally sourced, sustainable and organic. The programme’s slow-release fertiliser is based on refined poultry manure, and for moss control we use a natural, bacterial thatch-busting digester.
There are no negative environmental effects caused by our organic treatments.
All of our organic treatments are 100% friendly to humans and pets immediately after use, which is perfect for those lawns with grazing animals.
Our organic treatments will improve your soil’s Cation Exchange Capacity, enhancing the soil quality over time.
Unlike some chemical treatments, our organic products have zero potential to scorch grass.
Con’s
The fact of the matter is, organic products are more expensive and will need to applied at a significantly higher volume. An organic lawn care programme costs around twice the price of a standard one, but can prove very good value in the long term due to the thatch digesting nature of the products and increased disease resistance that will build up over time.
Patience is required, as organic products work more slowly than their chemically-boosted counterparts and the lawn will take longer to green up. However, the long term improvements will be significant.
There are currently no selective weed controls available which are organic. Therefore weeds will need to be removed by hand but as the grass thickens, weeds will have fewer chances to regenerate.
An organic solution for lawns suffering with poor soil
Even the poorest of soils can benefit from an Organic Lawn Care Programme.
Experience has shown us that our organic programme provides incredible results for lawns which suffer due to poor soil. If your lawn has very sandy, chalky or the dreaded inert soil, which is all too common these days with new build properties, you may find your lawn struggles to thrive with a standard lawn care programme. This is often because the balance of the soil and CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) is inadequate to allow the grass plant to take up and hold on to the nutrient which is applied. Lawns like this will often look hungry only a few weeks after they have been fed and are likely to suffer from regular outbreaks of disease such as Red Thread.
The purpose of an organic lawn care programme is to slowly and naturally build up the available nutrient to the plant in the soil, whilst utilising undigested organic matter, which will reduce stress to the plant and encourage vigour to the sward. To help the process along and to encourage vital natural bacteria activity in the soil we recommended carrying out regular aeration to breathe life back into the soil.
We would be delighted to talk to you about our Organic lawn care programme and provide you with a quotation. For more information you can visit our dedicated Organic lawn care programme page.
