Organic Lawn & Turf Grass Maintenance Tips - Organic Fertilizer Application Info
Organic Lawn & Turf Grass Maintenance Tips - Organic Fertilizer Application Info
Most lawn and turf grasses require only modest levels of natural organic fertilizer for good color and sustained growth. Too much fertilizer can cause your lawn grow faster, resulting in more frequent mowing. Apply organic fertilizer in late April and again in mid September. If a third application is needed, apply in late May. Apply only 6 to 10 oz. of natural organic fertilizer per 1000 square feet of lawn at each application. For slower, more sustained growth, choose natural fertilizer containing slow release nitrogen.
Nitrogen directly affects leaf and root growth, color, density, stresses tolerance, etc. Nitrogen over use can limit root growth, reduce root mass, increase incidence of disease, increase thatch accumulation, reduce stress tolerance, etc. Apply nitrogen as part of a complete balanced natural organic fertilizer that contains phosphorus, potassium, macro nutrients and trace elements.
Leave grass clippings where they fall. Grass clippings, left on the lawn, decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil. This can result in less fertilizer, less water and less work. Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch. Typically, grass clippings are 80% water and decompose quickly. Lawn thatch is the accumulation of dead roots and stems and is most often caused by over fertilizing and/or under watering. A thatch layer that exceeds one half inch should be removed.
LAWN MOWING & MAINTENANCE TIPS
• Keep grass height at 2"- 3" in height.
• Remove only 1/3 of the grass blade in any single mowing. For example, if your lawn is kept at 2" tall, it should not be allowed to grow higher than 3" before it is mowed.
• Mow when the grass is dry.
• Keep your mower blade sharp - dull blades can injure the plant.
• When excessive growth occurs between cuttings, raise the mower height, and gradually lower it over a span of several cuttings. This will help prevent shock to the plants.
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