I believe in providing lawn care that is eco-friendly. I don’t mean going “Birkenstock and Burlap” but greatly reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and insecticides. By feeding the soil with organic / natural fertilizers, your yard becomes a place that is safe for people, animals, and the environment. If the soil is fed properly the lawn will be stronger, more drought, disease and insect resistant. It will also shade out competing weeds. Some spot treating chemically or simply pulling of weeds may be necessary, but the use of herbicides is greatly reduced. After good healthy grass is established, weeds are almost nonexistent. Using sodium based synthetic fertilizers locks up the soils nutrients so the plants can’t use them. Synthetics also kill all living microorganisms in the soil, which normally break down the nutrients for the plants to absorb. Now the plants and grass depend on the synthetics to survive. Feeding the soil naturally builds up the soil and creates an ecosystem. Feed the microorganisms, the microorganism’s digest/break down the fertilizers, the byproduct is then absorbed by the plant roots. In the long haul you need not apply as much fertilizer, once your soil has the proper nutrient balance. Some maintenance feeding will always be necessary, but not the regimen synthetics require. ~ Dave
Mowing
When mowing it is important to mow at the correct height. Starting the season at 2-3 inches will help clean up dead grass and get the lawn under control. Raising to 3-4 inches will help shade out weeds and conserve moisture in the soil during the heat of summer. Mowing high also makes the lawn appear thicker. During the growing season its very important to not cutting more than 1/3 of the grass height. So if the desired cutting height is 3 ½ inches the grass needs to be cut when its no higher than 5 inches. This method reduces the “shock” of cutting the grass, and allows the roots to continue to grow. When you cut more than 1/3 of the height of the grass, the grass slows root growth to concentrate on regrowing the blade. Deep roots are what we want to help fight summer heat and drought.
Mulching
Mulching beds and around trees serves a few purposes. Makes your property beautiful. Prevents soil erosion. Also helps retain moisture and soil temperature. Feeds the soil and plants as it breaks down.
Aeration
Core aeration is essential to a healthy lawn. Normal ware and tare, mowing, playing, etc., compacts the soil. Compacted soil restricts oxygen, water, and nutrients to be absorbed by the plants and grass. Aeration helps correct this problem by removing plugs of soil to allow oxygen, water, and nutrients into the soil. By aerating, it also helps break up the thatch layer and encourage decomposition which feeds the lawn.
Overseeding
Overseeding is when grass seed is applied to an existing turf. It is usually performed in the fall, during core aeration and organic fertilizing. By putting down seed at this time, you have an opportunity to get better ground/seed contact. Because core aeration punches holes in the thatch and soil, this will allow for more contact, which is important for seed germination and survival. Also the organic fertilizer does not harm the seed, chemical fertilizer will burn the seed and young grass (unless a starter fertilizer is used). This can be done in the spring if needed. We like to use a high quality seed blend which usually consists of three or more varieties of grass. One seed might do better in shade, while another variety might do better in the sun. This is one reason to use a variety of seed. Another is that they are cultivating new varieties all the time. While some of the old varieties are still good, some of the new might have some better characteristics, like stronger root system, more drought tolerant, disease resistant, or better tolerance to traffic.
Compost
Compost is a superior way to feed the soil for your plants, trees, and lawn. It is decomposed organic matter which builds or feeds the microorganisms in your soil. Microorganisms in the soil must break down the compost even further to provide nutrients for your plants and lawn.
Compost Tea
Compost tea is greatly beneficial, it feeds and adds natural microorganisms to the soil which break down nutrients to be used by plants and grass. Improves the soil structure to reduce soil compaction and water retention.
Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizers are made of, you guessed it, organic material. Such as feather meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, alfalfa meal, corn gluten meal, to name a few. These feed the microorganisms in the soil. There are other natural amendments like gypsum, limestone, elemental sulfur, that help adjust ph levels. Organic fertilizers are slow release to allow steady absorption by the plants. You can apply anytime of year without worrying about burning the lawn. More expensive that the synthetics most people shy away from them, but the organic fertilizers are safe for the soil, plants, animals, people, and the environment and the synthetics are not. Would you spend a little more for the safety of your family and neighbors? Over time, you don’t have to fertilize as often as you would with synthetics (4-6 times per year). Once the soil is in balance, it just needs a few maintenance feedings to keep the nitrogen up. The synthetic fertilizers kill the soil, so there are no microorganisms to break down the natural nutrients that are already in the soil. The plants become dependant on the synthetic fertilizer and the natural process has stopped.
Aragonite (Calcium)
Raw Aragonite is ground sea shells like Mollusk or Oyster. It is used as a soil amendment to ad calcium and trace minerals to the soil. It also does not raise or lower the PH level in the soil. Most people use lime for their calcium needs, it’s cheap and does add calcium. It also raises PH levels in the soil, which is fine if the PH is low. Most of the soil I’ve had tested in the Hagerstown area has been just below or right at PH level 7. Grass likes the soil between 6.2 and 6.8. Weeds like PH levels to be above 7. Trying to reduce chemical pesticide use, I do not want to raise PH levels and give weeds any advantage. Weeds don’t like calcium. Calcium won’t kill weeds, it just helps deter weeds. Raw Aragonite is rich in sea trace minerals, and micro-nutrients like zinc, sulfur and boron. It also has aerobic bacteria which will fixate nitrogen, raw nitrogen N2 is ingested by the bacteria, leaving nitrates in the soil. Nitrates are very stable in the soil and does not disseminate into the air like chemical nitrogen. Plants also need calcium for cellular development to grow.
Soil Testing
Soil testing is an excellent way to determine which amendments to apply and how much. Testing is required in Maryland before applying fertilizers.
