Make Your Lawn Naturally Beautiful
(Page 2 of 4)
September 8, 2008
By Megan Phelps
So what do you use instead of chemical pesticides and fertilizers? In fact, some of the most effective methods for maintaining a beautiful lawn are both simple and nontoxic.
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Here are several strategies to consider:
1. Plan ahead to minimize problems.
The easiest way to keep your lawn healthy and keep unwanted weeds out is with a little preventive maintenance that stops problems before they get out of hand. For example:
- Keep your lawn healthy from the beginning by choosing a type of grass suited for your region and climate. This is also a good way to minimize watering.
- Stop weeds before they get started! In areas where you can’t mow, you can prevent weeds by using newspaper or plastic covered with mulch.
2. When you need fertilizers or pesticides choose natural, nontoxic options.
- To find least toxic solutions for weed and pest problems, a good place to start is with these factsheets from NCAP. (For garden pests, check out our recent article on organic pest control products.)
- You may be surprised to learn that there’s no reason to choose commercial fertilizers over ones you can harvest yourself. One excellent option is grass clippings, which provide a natural, slow-release fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Grass clippings are not as harsh on your lawn as some chemical fertilizers, less likely to wash away — and they’re free!
3. Learn to live with (or even love) a few weeds.
Sometimes all that's needed to fix a weed problem is a slight change of perspective. Clover is a good example of how personal preference determines whether or not we think of plants as weeds. Take a quick look online and you can find detailed advice both on how to get rid of clover in your yard, and how to add more of it! Rather than fight weeds, you may discover that there are a few you can live with, and even enjoy. For example:
