Organically YoursEnvironmentally Friendly Products For A Perfect Lawn
Organically Yours—Environmentally Friendly Products for a Perfect Lawn
Your lawn should be a healthy lawn without pests, lawn diseases or weeds but can you do that without putting harmful chemicals into the ground? It is possible to have a beautiful lush lawn without harming the environment. The use of chemical pesticides can be a health risk but can also kill insects that are favorable to your lawn. Runoff can eventually find their way into the water supply around your area.
Weed identification can be classified into two classes. These classifications are based on the way in which they come out of the seed. In simple terms, Monocots are weedy grasses such as crabgrass. Dicots are broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, ground ivy, and clover. These two weed types are divided into three groups:
Perennial weeds: have a life that spans no more than two years and is reproduced from new seeds every year.
Biennial weeds: have a life of two years. They store up food reserves in the leaves and root system the first year and produce seed in the second year. They often mix with the perennials, as they are so similar.
Annual weeds: are yearly weeds started from seeds, grow, and eventually flower producing more seeds in less than a year. There are summer annuals that germinate in the fall maturing in late fall, and winter annuals that will germinate in late spring.
If you are unsure of what weeds are in your yard, you can take samples to your county extension and they will help you identify them.
One of the most natural methods of controlling weeds is to have a vigorously growing turf cover. Correcting the underlying problem with the soil can control some weeds. For instance without correcting the soil compaction, you will not be able to rid your lawn of knotweeds. Other weeds can be controlled by altering what you do to your lawn to favor the lawn instead of the weeds. Adjusting the mowing height of your lawn mower, changing the frequency of mowing, or changing the water schedule can control weeds.
There are also very natural ways of controlling lawn pests and there are organic pest control products now on the market. Some of the organic pest controls use natural ingredients such as citrus oils; garlic, hot peppers, and cloves are also natural ingredients in some new organic pest and weed control. The natural organic weed controls with lemon as its base can kill various pests including aphids, bean beetles, fire ants, and our all-time favorite, Japanese beetles.
Another organic lawn and garden spray has a base of sesame oil, clove oil, and thyme oil. It can be used on fruits, vegetables, and your lawn. It is good for repelling such insects as fleas, ants, grasshoppers, and ticks.
Fire ants are prevalent in the south and are a danger because they sting and could potentially be a threat to small children. Ants can also nest in your lawn and can cause problems while mowing. Fire ants are attracted to bait and can end up carrying the bait back to the nest. That will either kill the queen or leave her infertile. Dry granular bait can be applied directly to ant mounds. These baits are made with natural oils are safe to use around pets, children and food crops. This same bait, used for fire ants, can also be effective in controlling many other garden and lawn pests.
Another organic garden spray has a base of black pepper and garlic and can be safely used on lawns and gardens. This spray will help control mosquitoes, gnats, fleas, and ticks.
An added benefit to using organic pest control is they are designed for long-term pest control. That means you will spend less time fighting those pests and more time enjoying your lawn.
Of course, you can still do the tried-and-true method of hand weeding, but that is only practical for the occasional plant that springs up. The easiest and safest ways are to treat your lawn and garden for pest and weed control with all natural, organic products that can be readily purchased from any store that sells home and garden supplies.
Look at all the options before you decide to use chemicals that are harmful to your plants, animals, and water supply.
More Articles
A Guide To Growing And Propagating Seeds
Preparing To Plant The Perfect Hedge What You Need To Know
Kentucky Blue Grass Its Not Just A Type Of Music
Protecting Your Turf How To Keep Your Neighbors Weed Problem From Becoming Yours
Landscaping With Low Maintenance Plants
A Guide To Different Types Of Shrubs For Your Garden
Related Products And FREE Videos
More Articles
... with the aspect of gardening that they are interested in, whether it's growing cacti or saving seeds. If you are in the market for a hobby greenhouse, there are several types on the market. The smallest type is not large enough to walk into and must be accessed from the outside. It resembles an old-fashioned ...
... exquisite, bright flowers, hanging at a horizontal, like jewels from a lady's ear, may be responsible for the plant's folk-name; but whoever is abroad early on a dewy morning, or after a shower, and finds notched edges of the drooping leaves hung with scintillating gems, dancing, sparkling in the sunshine, ...
... easier to plant his garden that way. Immediately a red flag went up. I asked him does he realize how much seed tapes cost. He really did not care about the cost, all he was concerned about was how neat it make his garden look Ouch! I suggested that he try something different this year go to his bathroom ...
Pretty Hedges Planted In A Row
... could occur when the home is first purchased and done in an effort to make the home perfect in their eyes. It could however be done later, when the homeowner retires, or when their schedule allows for such tasks. No matter when the urge hits however, the first thing a homeowner should do when thinking ...
... are best pruned in early spring while they are still dormant. Some plants, however, go through a process of bleeding, when sap runs out of the cuts. While this does not actually harm the plant or tree, it can cause homeowners distress and worry. Therefore, when pruning plants that tend to bleed (such ...