How to Start Your First Organic Garden (Part 9):
By taking a few easy
ps, you can end up with the green
, healthi
n on your block. Here’s what to do!
“Grass-cycle” your grass ppings.
Grass-cyng involves letting your
n reuse the grass
ppings created by mowing. The great thing about grass-cy
ng is that it’s easy! You simply leave your grass
ppings on the
n in
ad of throwing them away. Why would you want to do this? Because it’s been
ven that grass
ppings will quickly de
pose and return needed nutri
s to the
l. The grass
ppings also act as a natural mulch, helping your grass to retain water.
Grass-cyng is a way not only to im
ve your
n, it will also help you save time taking care of it! Other benefits of grass cy
ng include: im
ved
l texture, reduced need for fertilizers, saved time when you mow, and reduced wa
that goes to the landfill.
While you can convert most nm
rs for grass-cy
ng, your b
bet in to inv
in a reel m
r. Reel m
rs are quiet, effective, easy to use, and most reel m
rs leave the grass where it should be, on your
n!
If you just can’t stand the sight of grass ppings on your y
, another option is to
post them. Inv
in a simple
post bin and use the
post in your
n and g
en.
Cut your grass correctly and to the remended cutting height.
Knowing what height to cut your grass is an important way to get your grass to grow healthy and strong. Setting your nm
r to the high
or low
setting is not necessarily the b
thing for your grass. In fact, differ
grass species have differ
needs in terms of grass cutting height. You can look up re
mended cutting heights here.
Additionally, you should keep the blades on your nm
r nice and sharp so that it cuts your grass effectively. Also, consider buying a reel m
r, which actually cuts the grass like scissors rather than tearing it like traditional rotary
nm
rs. This makes for healthier grass in general.
Compost your kitchen and gen wa
for greener grass.
As mioned above,
posting your grass
ppings is a great way reduce wa
and help your g
en and
n grow. Additionally, you can
post other wa
from the g
en and even from your kitchen.
Adding post to your
l is one of the b
ways to green up your grass and all your g
en plants. Compost has a number of other benefits, including:
# Compost imves water drainage in clay and sandy
ls.
# Compost creates a slow release of plant nutris and stimulates root growth.
# Compost helps reduce blems with
l-borne plant diseases and g
en p
s.
# Compost prevs erosion of precious top
l.
# Compost recycles y and kitchen wa
s in
ad of sending it to the landfill.
# Compost balances the pH levels of most ls.
# Compost attracts beneficial insects, worms, and other organisms
Use corn gluten meal as a natural herbicide and n fertilizer.
Corn gluten meal is used most frequly as a natural preemerg
herbicide for turf grass and organic crops. H
ver, it has the added benefit of fertilizing your
l. Corn Gluten Meal is a totally natural by
duct of the wet-milling
cess for corn (Zea mays L.). It will help control annual weeds in your
n and will keep your grass fertilized.
Use Mycor Root Builder to imve your
l.
Mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial l organisms that
vide a sort of secondary root sy
m for your g
en plants and grass. They attach themselves to the roots and help plants and grass make better use of water and organic nutri
s in the
l.
With a Mycorrhizal fungi root builder, you can get mycorrhizal fungi to work more efficily. GreenSense Mycor Root Builder is an excell
duct that contains Endomycorrhiza, Ectomycorrhiza, Scleroderma, Kelp, Zeolite, and liquid Humate. It will work great on all the plants you grow, not just your turf grass.