To be organic in gardening or lawn care means not using synthetic chemicals. The movement toward following organic growing principles comes from understanding the impact on the environment, people and pets of many of the chemicals used in fertilizers and weed control products.
Organic Fertilizers for Texas Lawns
The secret to adding organic nutrients to a Texas lawn is caring for the soil. The first step is to make sure that the soil’s pH supports healthy grass. Although less of a problem in east Texas where the soil pH is neutral to slightly acidic, the central and west Texas soils need help with their pH. Adding organic matter to the soil is the best way to lower pH and one of the easiest ways to add organic matter is by using a mulching mower.
Leave the mulched grass on the lawn to decompose into the soil. Also mulch leaves with a mower in the fall rather than raking and bagging them for the landfill. Landscape America suggests, “Aerate your soil periodically and apply organic fertilizers that are protein based. You can also add a thin layer of compost (top dressing) every 4 — 5 years.”
Some options for organic fertilizers are suggested by CleanAir Gardening including: bat guano, fish meal, kelp meal, and an organic liquid fertilizer called MetaGreen.
Organic Weed Control
Weed control in a Texas lawn is significantly aided by having a healthy, thick lawn that chokes out weeds. Although this works well in the summer when Texas lawns are actively growing, spring and fall are the times when weeds have the advantage. Adding corn gluten in the fall will prevent weed seeds from germinating, but does not kill existing weeds.
Applying a concentrated vinegar solution will help kill some weeds in the lawn. To create concentrated vinegar greater than the 5% solution sold in the grocery store, boil it down about 50%. If the lawn has only a few weeds pick them by hand being sure to dig up the weed plant’s roots. Over-seeding with cool season grasses like rye will also keep weeds from getting a foothold in the lawn.
If the yard is over-run with weeds, an extreme solution is to solarize the lawn. Solarizing requires covering the affected area with thick, black plastic and literally solar-heating the growth underneath until the weeds and grass die. Then, remove the dead weeds, aerate the soil and re-plant seeds or use sod that is weed free.
Getting and keeping a healthy lawn without using chemicals is a slower and sometimes more challenging process than applying traditional chemical treatments. Homeowners that commit to being organic can succeed however and they can feel good about the smaller footprint they are leaving on the environment.
