How to Start Your First Organic Garden (Part 9):
By taking a few easy
ps, you can end up with the greenest, healthiest
n on your block. Here’s what to do!
“Grass-cycle” your grass clippings.
Grass-cycling involves letting your n reuse the grass clippings created by
ing. The great thing about grass-cycling is that it’s easy! You simply leave your grass clippings on the
n in
ad of throwing them away. Why would you want to do this? Because it’s been
ven that grass clippings will quickly decompose and return needed nutrients to the soil. The grass clippings also act as a natural mulch, helping your grass to retain water.
Grass-cycling is a way not only to imve your
n, it will also help you save time taking care of it! Ot
benefits of grass cycling include: im
ved soil texture, reduced need for fertilizers, saved time when you
, and reduced wa
that goes to the
dfill.
While you can convert most n
ers for grass-cycling, your best bet in to invest in a reel
er. Reel
ers are quiet, effective, easy to use, and most reel
ers leave the grass w
e it should be, on your
n!
If you just can’t stand the sight of grass clippings on your yard, anot option is to compost them. Invest in a simple compost bin and use the compost in your
n and garden.
Cut your grass correctly and to the recommended cutting height.
Knowing what height to cut your grass is an important way to get your grass to grow healthy and strong. Setting your n
er to the highest or lowest setting is not necessarily the best thing for your grass. In fact, different grass species have different needs in terms of grass cutting height. You can look up recommended cutting heights
e.
Additionally, you should keep the blades on your n
er nice and sharp so that it cuts your grass effectively. Also, consider buying a reel
er, which actually cuts the grass like scissors rat
than tearing it like traditional rotary
n
ers. This makes for healthier grass in general.
post your kitchen and garden wa
for greener grass.
As mentioned above, composting your grass clippings is a great way reduce wa and help your garden and
n grow. Additionally, you can compost ot
wa
from the garden and even from your kitchen.
Adding compost to your soil is one of the best ways to green up your grass and all your garden pts.
post has a number of ot
benefits, including:
# post im
ves water drainage in clay and sandy soils.
# post creates a slow release of p
t nutrients and stimulates root growth.
# post helps reduce
blems with soil-borne p
t diseases and garden pests.
# post prevents erosion of precious topsoil.
# post recycles yard and kitchen wa
s in
ad of sending it to the
dfill.
# post ba
ces the pH levels of most soils.
# post attracts beneficial insects, worms, and ot
organisms
Use corn gluten meal as a natural bicide and
n fertilizer.
Corn gluten meal is used most frequently as a natural preemergent bicide for turf grass and organic crops. However, it has the added benefit of fertilizing your soil. 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 soil.
Mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial soil organisms that vide a sort of secondary root sy
m for your garden p
ts and grass. They attach themselves to the roots and help p
ts and grass make better use of water and organic nutrients in the soil.
With a Mycorrhizal fungi root builder, you can get mycorrhizal fungi to work more efficiently. GreenSense Mycor Root Builder is an excellent duct that contains Endomycorrhiza, Ectomycorrhiza, Scleroderma, Kelp, Zeolite, and liquid Humate. It will work great on all the p
ts you grow, not just your turf grass.