Talking About Green

Now that spring is fully blooming and temps across the entire country are getting hotter, it is time to think about lawn care, and more importantly, fertilization! But do you want to go natural or organic? Do you know what that really means? After all, organically treated lawns look much better when they are treated properly! Bet you didn’t know that!

Naturally treated or organically fertilized lawns respond just a little slower because organics need proper, prolonged heat in order to release their nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil. Traditional synthetic fertilizers, however, only need water to dissolve and hit the soil line. This means that organics won’t produce any results until later in the year. Organics, however, do have the advantage of being slow release, feeding the lawn over time.

You should not get discouraged, however, because the slow release nature of natural fertilizers will pay off in much longer terms. Picture a child who eats sugar for a moment. That child will explode with energy for a short time and crash to sleep. This is how fast releasing synthetic fertilizers work too. They feed the lawn fast and hard, and then leave nothing in their wake. Slow releasing naturals are much better for long term turf health.

Now that you know what works best, here are some of my favorite natural fertilizers for your lawn care needs this season.

Milorganite: this organic lawn fertilizer is known as a bio-solid because it comes directly from sewage treatment plants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While that may turn you off, the fertilizer itself turns up the vigor of grass plants. Milorganite contains slow release nitrogen and also iron. Iron is what makes the lawn that deep blue that sets it apart. Milorganite is available for around $15 for a 36 lb bag that will treat 2,500 square feet. It requires just a couple applications; one in early summer, and another in later fall.

Ringer Lawn Restore: Ringer is a natural lawn fertilizer derived from chicken parts and chicken castings and provides a super efficient source of nitrogen for turf. It does have a bit of a smell to it; ok, a lot of smell, but works very well for rejuvenating a lawn that is in bad shape. If your lawn just won’t seem to grow, try Ringer in the later spring or early summer and see if it helps.

Worm Castings: for those of you who are 100% against the use of any animal (mammal) products in your organic lawn care regimen, then worm castings are for you. Earth worms excrete an extremely clean and mineral rich slurry which is collected, dried and packed for lawn and garden fertilizer. It is very expensive, but works well for those of you who are on the Earth friendly extreme.

Other than that, you should properly mow and water your lawn all year long to keep it in top shape! I wish you the best of luck in your organic lawn care endeavors this season!