Tips from Melinda Myers on Organic Lawn & Garden Care.
Organic Lawn Care
Keys to a Healthy Lawn...
Mowing
Mow high – 3 to 3 ½ or more tall
Mow often – remove no more than 1/3 height
Leave Clippings on the Lawn – one season of clippings = one fertilization
Sharp Blades – can reduce gas consumption by 25%, grass loses less water, more pest resistant and looks better
Fertilization
What to Use: Organic Options - Low Nitrogen Slow Release
Promotes slow steady growth=
Less mowing
Less water
Less susceptible to insects and disease
When to Apply:
Low Maintenance – once in fall (mid October –Thanksgiving)
Moderate Maintenance – Memorial Day and Fall
Holiday Schedule - Memorial Day, Labor Day, Halloween
Water
If you water – 1” per week, including rainfall
Water thoroughly when grass turns gray-green or footprints remain
If you allow the lawn to go dormant, don’t use chemicals on dormant lawn and minimize foot traffic
Leave lawn dormant until cool wet weather returns
Weeds
Pre-emergent – Jonathan Green’s Corn gluten
Selective Broadleaf weedkiller - Natria Lawn Weed (contains Hedta)
Organic Garden Care
Work with Nature – only about 3% of insects in the world are harmful – the rest are pollinators, predators, composters……
Use a Plant Health Care Approach – holistic approach
Right Plant for the location - Look for most pest resistant
Provide Proper Care - which includes soil preparation – include organic matter
Do soil test to determine nutrient needs – Milorganite (organic nitrogen) and lots of other organic choices at Pasquesi
Monitor for problems
Identify the Problem
Determine if control is needed - What is your tolerance level? Wait for nature to move in whenever possible
Look for the most eco-friendly way to manage the problem - Always read and follow label directions even w/organics
Evaluate management strategies and adjust as needed
Record
Make a note in next year’s calendar as reminder to monitor
A few examples...
Diseases Occur when these three things are present:
Weather conditions are right
Susceptible plant
Disease causing organism
Tips for How to Avoid the Following:
Powdery Mildew
Resistant Plants
Proper growing conditions
Thin stems by ¼ in spring
Mask bad foliage with other plants
Bonide Neem & Actinovate Organic Fungicide
Slugs
Resistant plants – hostas with thick substantive leaves
Traps
Deterrents
Slug Magic - Organic slug controls (iron phosphate)
Cabbage worms
Physical Control
Barriers – ReeMay, Harvest Guard, Grass fast
Bacillus thuingiensis kurstaki (Dipel, Thuricide)
Aphids and Mites
Lady beetles and Lace Wings eat the problem
Strong blast of water
Traps and reflective mulch
Insecticidal soap, Bonide All Season Oil, Bonide Neem
Mosquitoes
Eliminate standing water
Mosquito dunks & flakes in rain barrels & water features w/o fish
Fan when gardening and sitting – mosquitoes are weak flyers
Bonide Mosquito Beater
Weeds
Pulling – cultivation
Mulching – cardboard or newspaper under organic mulches
Organic herbicides - burns the top of the plants – need repeat apps for perennials
BurnOut Weed and Grass Killer (plant oils)
Bio-safe herbicidal soap