10 Ways to a Greener Lawn without any Pesticides

Always be ready on spring time and be an environment friendly individual.

The list mention are 10 possible ways to make your lawn greener without using any pesticides.

•Choose the right grass and a drough-tolerant grass seed. When shopping for grass seed, select suitable varieties or fescues and spread them on your lawn every fall (over-seeding). A thick lawn crowds out weeds.

•Mow high. To discourage weeds, keep your lawn mower blade sharp and at a height of 3 inches or 7 centimetres. Never cut off more than one-third of the
grass stem at a time.

•Leave your grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil. This will reduce your need for fertilizer by 30%. Clippings are mainly water, so they add moisture to your lawn. (Check Grass Clippings Nature’s Fertilizer)

•Top-dress and fertilize. Lawns should be fertilized in the spring and again in the
fall. Use a slow-release granular fertilizer and apply a top layer of natural organic
matter such as compost (top-dress).

•Let your lawn breathe. Aerate your lawn by removing small plugs of earth to allow
air and water to get to the roots. A pesticide-free lawn will encourage earthworms, nature’s aerators.

•Let your lawn soak up 2-3 cm (1 inch) of water, once a week, early in the morning, to promote deep root growth. If it has rained, adjust your watering. Use a rain gauge to measure water levels.

•Remove thatch. Thatch is a thick compacted layer of dead plants and grass
which attracts harmful insects. Too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from
getting to the roots. Remove thatch by gently raking your lawn in late spring or
early summer. Aerate. To prevent thatch, don’t over-water or over fertilize.

•Develop a tolerance for a few dandelions, weeds and insects. Most insects are NOT harmful and some are important to our environment.

•Dig out weeds and their roots by hand. Pour boiling water on weeds that are growing between patio stones. Use a stick or your hands to knock unwanted insects off plants into a dish of soapy water.

•Consider alternative plants. Alternatives to grass include trees, shrubs, perennials,
ground covers and wild flowers. Native species work best and can be found at
local garden centers.