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…

1. 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. 
2. Keep traffic to a minimum. 
3. 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.

Contact us today for more information or to schedule your FREE organic lawn care consultation.

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.

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.

For more information, read Ten Tips for a Great Organic Lawn or contact us today for a free consultation.

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.

Learn more about Organic Soil Solutions one-year organic lawn care program or contact us for a Free Lawn Care Consultation.

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.

Get more answers to your questions about organic lawn care or contact us today for a free estimate.

Nada S. – Stoneham MA

Andrea B. – Newton MA

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.

Read additional tips on maintaining a great organic lawn here.

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Consultation? Contact us today.

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?

What do you think?