Few things make an outside space look better than a well-cared for lawn. It’s a lush green space that is easy on the eye and makes an excellent place to hang out when the weather is good. It makes sense to invest time and effort in taking care of your lawn, so it does not end up looking like a dead, untidy mess.
The problem is that if you join the many Americans who together spend billions of dollars each year on lawn care products; you could be doing more harm than good. It may seem like a good idea to treat your lawn with chemical based fertilizers and pesticides but these products can damage the environment and cause harm in other ways. It makes more sense to care for your lawn organically.
Why using chemicals is a bad idea
There are several reasons why keeping your lawn in shape organically is the best thing to do. The damage caused to the environment is one of them. Chemicals can also be dangerous to use if you have pets or young children living in your home.
The products used can also kill good organisms as well as bad ones. Rather than helping the grass to grow and thrive, this can actually weaken it and make it more open to disease. Organic lawn care makes sense, and it’s not difficult to do.
Looking after a southern lawn organically
The first tip that you need to remember, when caring for a lawn organically in the Southern states is that you need to choose the right grass. The climate of the US is a varied one, so it makes sense that grasses which thrive in the cooler and drier temperatures of the north do not do as well in the south. These are some of the best grasses to choose for your organic lawn.Bahia grass
This is a grass which can tolerate a certain amount of footfall, and flourishes in a moderate amount of sun or full sunlight. It also grows well in any type of soil. If you choose this grass for your lawn, you should keep it at a height of around 2-2.5 inches.
Bermuda grass
If you have kids or pets, this grass could be a good choice for you as it’s resilient to heavy use. It should be kept at a height of around 1.5 to 2 inches and likes full sunlight. Textured soil is the best type for growing a lawn of this grass.
Centipede grass
This grass enjoys full or partial sunlight and can be grown in acidic soil. It should be mown to a height of 1.5 to 2 inches and is best used in an ornamental lawn rather than one which is going to be used frequently.
St. Augustine
This grass should be kept at a height of around 2-3 inches. It can stand a lot of action, so your kids can play on it. Sandy soil is ideal for growing this grass, as is full or partial sunlight.
After you have chosen the right grass for your lawn, there are other tips that you need to remember.
- Water less often but deeper. Doing this helps to strengthen grass by creating deeper and stronger roots.
- While they are growing, lawns should be mown at least once each week. As we mentioned earlier, grass should be kept at its ideal length.
- All lawns need sunlight to thrive. Grasses which need a lot of full sun might be affected by shade from a tall tree or outhouse. This shade may mean that grass does not grow as it should.
If you’re looking for more information about grass types in the south, sites like WikiLawn offer a multitude of grass and lawn care guides.
Taking these tips into account helps you to create a beautiful organic lawn. Organic lawns will normally flourish without extra help once they are established. If you find that your grass is not growing as well as it should at first, use an organic fertilizer to help.
Article Submitted By Community Writer