When people talk of organic lawns, they often mention something about tolerating a few imperfections. Well, this is the season for a few imperfections. Our cool season grasses love the cool nights of the spring and fall. That’s when they grow vigorously and develop deep roots. They tend to go dormant in the summer. A lawn with decent soil and a good root system should bounce back by Labor Day.
One customer, who doesn’t water, told me, “I tell my neighbors, I’m out of the lawn competition in August. Hell, they’re all on the Cape anyway. The grass always bounces back.”
An organic lawn through the seasons…
Spring, Summer and Fall.
This summer seems extraordinarily hot and dry. I see all sorts of lawns browning up due to summer stress. Last year it seemed cool and moist until August. Every year is different.
A few tips…
If your lawn is brown, it’s not a good idea to water constantly to green it up while the weather is still hot. An inch every couple of weeks should keep it going.
Keep traffic to a minimum.
Mow high and only when needed.
Lawns with problem thatch layers will experience drought stress sooner. Soil conditions such as compaction will become evident. You may see brown lines caused by the tire tracks of the lawnmower.
Our lawns may not look their best in the heat of summer, but they’ll be back when the yellow school buses roll around.
One of the first things we like to do when we get a new customer is to take a soil sample and send it to the lab. A lot of homeowners signing up for our program have pretty acidic soil. With a low pH the grass plant can’t access the nutrients it needs and acid loving weeds have a field day.
The soil test lets us know of other factors influencing the health of the soil like the amount of organic matter and the relationship of important nutrients. Soil tests are more important to Organic Soil Solutions because we rely so much on the soil to make our seeding successful. The soil test measures the chemical nature of the soil but good physical and biological components are essential as well.
Turf magazine featured us in an article called "Passing the Soil Test" last month. It’s great that the turf care industry is concerned about the health of the soil and we hope the trend continues.
It’s hard to over state the importance of good cultural practices for a successful organic lawn. That doesn’t mean you have to invite a string quartet over for tea. It means you have to leave the grass high, recycle the clippings and water correctly.
I visited a lawn recently in Newton that was loaded with weeds. It was cut short and scalped around the edges. “How often do you water?” I asked the home owner. “Every day.” she replied. I wasn’t surprised. The lawn had a thick layer of thatch, which when kept moist, is a perfect breeding ground for fungal disease and weed seed germination. Meanwhile, the grass is not developing the deep roots it needs to thrive.
Each time its cut short, the plant is stressed and has to grow back the blade. The roots don’t have to go deep to get water because there’s plenty at the surface. Too much water fills the spaces between the soil particles where air should be and creates a condition similar to compaction. As they say, the roots don’t grow in the soil, but in the spaces between the soil particles. It starts with good soil structure.
A happy lawn waves in the breeze and basks in the sun. It has plenty of leaf surface for photosynthesis and making food, activities the grass plant loves to do. Most of those starches and sugars go to the roots for growth and keeping the soil biology well fed and productive. You don’t want those bacteria and fungi sitting on the couch collecting unemployment and playing X-Box all day!
Grass clippings add nitrogen and organic matter while keeping weeds at bay. The soil has stayed fairly moist on its own this year. If you wonder if your lawn needs water, stick a shovel or a spade in the ground and see if the soil is dry. If the grass doesn’t bounce back when you walk on it, it needs water.
Someone told me that the lawn at Tanglewood is organic. If it is, it thrives because of good cultural practices.
I’ve never seen so much clover. I was riding my bike around Needham the other day and just about every lawn had at least a sprinkling of clover. At first, I was really impressed with the number of organic lawns in Needham, but then I considered that maybe the chemical herbicides weren’t able to control this year’s clover frenzy.
I’ve heard that the outbreak of clover is due to the record rains in March. The heavy deluge depleted the soil of nitrogen, which can leach from the organic matter under the right conditions. We all know that clover, as a legume, can fix nitrogen from the air and replenish the soil. That is why it was included in all the best grass seed mixes before the advent of broadleaf weed killers and the advertising campaign that unjustly vilified clover as a weed. Clover has been like ‘The Fugitive’ chasing the one-armed man to clear its name.
As I pedaled around town, I kind of liked it. I certainly wouldn’t use a chemical herbicide to control it. Clover looks a lot better when it is interspersed in a seed mix than in the clumps that spring up to correct soil conditions. When customers call me to complain about clover, it’s usually because the lawn is not doing well and the clover looks huge. We have one large lawn that always looks good and I swear it’s because of the clover sprinkled throughout. You’d never know it’s there unless you looked closely.
Clover helps relieve compaction, as well. It can be an annual or a short lived perennial, so it seems to come and go. Bees are always a concern underfoot, but we could probably use more pollinating insects as well. I’m glad the clover’s here and I wish it well. It sounds like a radical idea, but maybe it’s time for clover to take back its traditional place in the American lawn.
I’ve become more convinced lately that the organic fertilizer has a lot to do with our success.Feeding the soil and stimulating the biology really seems to set the table for good seed germination and deep, healthy roots.An active soil, with plenty of space for air and water, makes for grass that doesn’t just grow, it thrives.At one big place we do, the grass is overflowing along the driveway where crab grass used to dominate.A lot of the small lawns in city settings have become pools of green.
I’ve been stunned this spring by the turn around in some of the lawns we care for.Places where I’ve seeded for years were covered with thick, lush grass.One lady said, “Remember when this was all brown.Now we never have crab grass and we don’t even water anymore”.
Another guy, who’s been on the program a couple of years said, “You know, this stuff really works.My wife heard crickets the other night for the first time in years.And we have robins on the front yard again”.Mowing high, improving the soil and seeding certainly help as well. Before some readers choke, however, yes, we still have plenty of challenging lawns and we thank you for the opportunity to succeed.
If you use irrigation, watering deeply and less often is best for the grass.Apply water based on the weather, your soil, shade and the depth of your roots.The best practice is one inch (approximately one hour), once a week.If it gets hot, do it twice.We want to get the water deep down to the roots and not maintain a moist surface that is ideal for weed seed germination.You can use a spade to check the soil moisture once in a while.Mow at 3” or more.
Today we started our first treatment, an Early Spring application of 6-0-6 soy based organic fertilizer. It contains nitrogen and other nutrients that are broken down by the soil biology. It is a tremendous food for bacteria and protozoa at the time of year when they are most active. It is safe for all living things, including pets and children. Early spring fertilizer encourages vigorous turf growth and helps prevent crab grass.
The bacteria are getting a lot of respect lately. We know that 90% of the cells in our bodies are bacteria and most snowflakes are wrapped around bacteria, but now scientists are discovering extremeophiles. They used to think that life could not exist above the boiling point, but now they have discovered bacteria that flourish at 230 degrees and live miles below the surface.
A New York Times headline says it all, "Strange New Microbes Hint at a Vast Subterranean World". The total mass may exceed that of all surface life. The most effective way to kill crab grass may be with an herbicide, but the best way to control it is with a healthy lawn. Crab grass likes compaction, heat and lots of sunlight. It is an opportunistic summer annual that doesn’t get a chance in a vigorous, dense turf. To reduce crab grass, water only when necessary and then, provide a thorough and deep soaking. Frequent, light watering can promote crab grass germination. Mow high and leave the clippings.
A friend of mine read our recent blog post, Spread the Love, Go Organic, and he disagreed with my whole theory about the soil being "a great place for a good time if it has plenty of air, water and organic matter". I think good organic soil is the perfect place for a party full of healthy plants and grasses that we can enjoy and roll around in.
But, maybe my friend has a point…
All partying aside, an organic lawn or garden can also be a place to teach and to learn about literature, math, history and science. It can be a place to reflect and relax.
The article, "Muddy Waters", from Heronswood Voice reads "Plants and seeds provide students with new ways to understand the world and their place in it. A small, modest garden supplies tactility, shape, color, fragrance and flavor: all key ways we apprehend reality. Finally, gardening provides an overarching narrative that connects and unites all aspects of humanity…"
So, are organic lawns and gardens like a party or a quiet place to learn and reflect? Or both?
The Weys were more than happy to share some photos of their organic lawn and garden last summer with everyone considering organic lawn care in Massachusetts.
In their words:
"I cannot believe it was just the second year we started treating our garden and lawn organically. WOW! What a difference! I don't know if you remember, but we had huge holes and area where grass was not even growing after trying for 2 years.
The plantings are organic too! We planted the garden two summers ago and they started as 4" plants…you can really see that organic treatment does a fantastic job.
Chris and I are very pleased, and we really want to thank you very much for doing such an amazing job!"
We all need friends in life. And so does our grass. The soil biology are great friends of the plant. Scientists say that up to 40% of the sugars and starches (milk and cookies) produced by photosynthesis are dispensed into the soil to feed the biology. The bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes, in return, access nutrients for the plant, fend off invaders and improve the soil. Everyone brings something to the party. The soil is a great place for a good time if it has plenty of air, water and organic matter.
We are invited to this party, too, if we can be nice to the other guests. Rules of etiquette require that we don’t destroy the biology with harmful chemicals. Water soluble nitrogen doesn’t need the biology to break it down. Like fast food, it makes the plant weak and lazy. It doesn’t encourage root growth and drives off the beneficial life that prevents disease. Then we use herbicides and fungicides to drive off the bad actors that show up to crash our nice little soiree.
If we want to set the table for a groovy time, where everyone gets along, we let the grass grow long, green blades that bask in the sunlight. We relieve compaction so the roots can stretch out and get some air and take a little drink. We don’t need a keg, just enough cool liquid to quench our thirst. We can bring a little extra food for the biology and maybe a bit of limestone to help everyone chill. If we really want to get down, we can invite some more guys and dolls from the compost and compost tea. We can add some seed to crowd the dance floor. Then we can roll around on our lawn and enjoy all that noise coming from down in the soil. Spread the love, go organic.
Make your outdoor space even more organic and inviting with a little help from our friends, partners, and colleagues who offer everything from landscaping to tree care to organic vegetable gardens throughout Massachusetts. Check out our Resource Center today for the latest and greatest in the organic lawn care and landscape world.
I wanted to tell you that when we came back from Ireland in early August our lawn looked great (and still does)! We are very happy. And while we know it's still establishing in places, I simply wanted to say thanks, the lawn looks fabulous!
Today we started our first treatment, an Early Spring application of 6-0-6 soy based organic fertilizer. It contains nitrogen and other nutrients that are broken down by the soil biology. It is a tremendous food for bacteria and protozoa at the time of year when they are most active. It is safe for all living things, including pets and children. Early spring fertilizer encourages vigorous turf growth and helps prevent crab grass. 
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