In recent years, many homeowners have made the switch to organic lawn care. There are many benefits to using natural methods to maintain your lawn. Using natural methods gives lawn the beneficial nutrients that are needed to enrich the soil and promotes the health of fungi and microorganisms that exist in your lawn. Over time, using organic techniques also helps to reduce the amount of maintenance and increases the self-sustainability of your lawn. If you are new to organic gardening and lawn care, here are few tips to help you get started.

Use Yard and Kitchen Waste to Fertilize the Lawn

 

Compost is a natural fertilizer that can be made in a home. Composting converts organic waste material in to a fertilizer that provide nutrients for your lawn. A variety of discarded foods can be added to your compost pile or bin. Examples of food waste that is compostable includes: tea bags, egg shells and citrus rinds. Lawn refuse, leaves and grass clippings, can also be placed into the compost bin. There are certain items that cannot be placed in a compost bin. Fat, weed seeds and any other items that will attract pests are not compostable.

 

Avoid Killing Pests and Using Chemical Pesticides

 

While most people are bothered by the sight of bugs, most bugs will not destroy gardens or lawns. However, if bugs do begin to overrun a yard, there are several natural, pest control options. Do not use synthetic fertilizers. These types of fertilizers often have high nitrogen levels that will cause the rapid growth of plants. Insects will actually become attracted to massive amounts of plants. Another natural way to deter pests is by increasing the diversity of the plants around your lawn. Mix ornamental flowers and shrubs with edible plants. The variety of different scents and colors will deter certain types of insects.

Re-Use Grass Clippings

 

It is a fairly common practice for homeowners to mow their lawn and throw the grass clipping out as lawn refuse. Instead of throwing away the lawn clippings, spread them across the lawn. Grass clippings decompose quickly and helps to promote a healthier and greener lawn. Grass clippings can improve the lawn in the following ways:

• Decreases the amount of watering a lawn needs
• Provides nitrogen
• Reduces the amount of fertilizer the lawn requires

Weed Control

 

It is highly unlikely for a lawn to never have weeds, but it is possible to keep them from getting out of control. Planting a several different types of grasses is one way to avoid weeds in the lawn. Some grasses do not have the ability to overpower weeds. By using two ore more different types of grasses, there is an increased likelihood that one of the grasses can overpower the weeds. If using a pesticide is natural, corn gluten meal is a natural substance that can be used to treat dandelions and other forms of weeds.

Organic lawn care is good for the environment and greatly improves the quality of a lawn. Natural lawn care does take some effort, but the benefits are well-worth it. Read more to find more information about organic care and the effects it has on your lawn.