A Guest Blog by Ann Katelyn of Sumo Gardener
“I’m Ann, I have dedicated most of my life in gardening. This is a subject I enjoy the most. I have been a fan of flowers and plants ever since I was a kid. My blog: http://sumogardener.com“
In order to maintain a garden, gardeners always search for the best ways to apply fertilizer. Some of them always look carefully at the materials to see if each and every one of them is actually beneficial to the soil. Other people often look for eco-friendly ways to fertilize their lawn. After all, isn’t the garden a reflection of natural beauty?
Going Organic
Can’t you just treat your lawn with any kind of fertilizer? Yes, you can, but applying organic material replicates the same kind of treatment that occurs in nature. Rainforests do not have humans taking care of them through various synthetic products, yet they still grow humongous trees and foliage. Maintaining your lawn in an eco-friendly manner helps in developing soil life while also preventing diseases. If you keep the soil healthy, plants will have better chances of growing in abundance. Aside from this, you also won’t have to worry about chemicals affecting not only your pets but also your children.
One of the best ways to keep your lawn in good condition is through composting. The products you use for composts will naturally release nutrients in your garden. Thus, you are going to benefit in two ways: growing your garden and reusing kitchen waste. All you have to do is to collect dry leaves, vegetables, and even paper and garden clippings before combining them along with some soil.
Of course, you need to pay close attention to what you use for composting. If you are not going to make your own, you have to make it certain that the compost you’ll be getting from others won’t contain horrible sludge or herbicidal content.
Differentiating Lawn Thatch from Clippings
They might look similar, but there is a great difference between lawn thatch and garden clippings. First of all, a layer of thatch is generally bad for your garden. It is made up of various organic waste such as grass crowns and shoots that are located on the surface of the soil – grass clippings have nothing to with the thatch. In truth, thatch is formed when your garden is growing too much and too fast, which ruins the balance of organic production and decomposition.
On the other hand, what your lawn really needs are short grass clippings. These sections of grass are mostly made up of water and quickly undergo decomposition upon reaching the ground. Unlike thatch that blocks air, water, and other nutrients from going down the roots, lawn clippings are actually good for your garden. Since they will decompose immediately, the soil gets a fast source of nutrients. In fact, grass clippings eventually provide phosphorus, which is essential for newly seeded gardens.
Taking Weather into Consideration
In order to efficiently provide fertilizer in an eco-friendly manner, you have to understand that weather affects the process. First of all, be careful if you apply fertilizer during a drought since water becomes scarce. Without water, the fertilizer cannot support photosynthesis and it will simply be a waste of resources. Likewise, there’s really no point in fertilizing during and just before a thunderstorm. Once the heavy rain reaches your lawn, the fertilizer will simply go down the drain instead of helping your plants grow. Thus, you must regularly check the weather conditions before applying fertilizer to your garden.
Utilizing Fertilizer Spreaders
If you haven’t already heard of fertilizer spreaders, you seriously need to consider getting one or renting one. The best fertilizer spreaders can do wonders for your garden. For one, fertilizer spreaders appropriately distribute the material – something that is hard to replicate through a manual application. Yes, you can do it on your own, but it takes time and you risk uneven distribution. If you are not precise enough in fertilizer distribution, your plants won’t grow properly. Secondly, fertilizer spreaders are eco-friendly because they do not harm the soil. Gardeners do not want to ruin their soil, but they also want to grow their plants.
There you have it. From composting to fertilizer spreaders and to simply checking out the weather, there are many ways for you to fertilize your lawn in a way that won’t hurt the environment. Your garden is your own small, natural paradise, so you should always take care of it in the best way possible.
For more tips on eco-friendly lawn care, go to 20 Tips for Fertilizing Your Lawn.
Anne Katelyn
Founder/Chief Editor
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