A true commitment to the environment is where organic lawn care begins. By maintaining a fit habitation in our own backyards, we create healthier living. In order to absorb harmful carbon dioxide, place in the ground plants that are rich with vegetation, they also produce oxygen which helps to renew our air supply.

Grasses is a major part of the problem although they are beautiful and enjoyable most of the time. A lawn should be chosen for its horticultural and functional requirements. Consider a families outdoor activity level, watering requirements, sun exposure, winter color and general surface appearance.

Up to 40 to 60 percent of water consumption comes from residential lawn watering during the long summer months. This makes lawn maintenance both a drain on the wallet and a huge chore.

One way to help in the commitment to organic lawn care is to reduce the size of the lawn. Many people switch their normal lawn to a ground covering that requires little or no maintenance such as tress and scrubs; others build decks and patios to take up lawn space.

Countless numbers of homeowners do not know the proper height their lawn should be and do not mow accordingly. They also don’t leave the grass clippings on the lawn which is most beneficial for growing grass. Stress can be caused by mowing the grass too short and allowing the grass to grow too tall could have the clipping smoother the growing grass. Grass cycling will provide a lawn with approximately two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

The soil is the key to any successful organic lawn program. The soil must be alive with helpful insects and microorganisms.  Disease causing microbes don’t have a chance against beneficial microbes which protect and feed a lawn from disease-causing microbes.

Fungi and bacteria found in finished compost makes up beneficial microorganisms. There are two ways to reap the benefits of compost; one is to put them directly into the soil before seeding or sodding. The other way is to sprinkle the lawn with compost and then sweep it off so that the microbes will penetrate the soil when watering occurs, which should be done immediately after the compost application in order to hasten the process.

Beginning an organic lawn care program is as simple as stopping the use of chemical fertilizers and begin replenishing the lost microbes with compost. Protein based fertilizers work well; they contain alfalfa meal, corn meal, soy meal, coffee grounds, sorghum meal and cottonseed meal or anything relatively inexpensive found at a local feed and lawn shop.

Many people believe they have to pull weeds out of their lawn, especially once they have gone organic and don’t want to use a pesticide for killing the weeds. According to one organic lawn expert, using a vinegar solution sprayed on the weeds – not drenched – will kill the weeds and be gentle on the rest of the lawn. Combine vinegar, molasses and liquid dish soap in a spray bottle and spray the weeds. The weeds will die at the roots and not come back.