Talking About Green

A green lawn and a bountiful backyard garden go hand-in-hand, right?  If you are more than overwhelmed at the thought of tackling both your lawn and organic garden this spring, this will get you started in the right direction.

So put down your garden gloves and shovel and read these helpful tips before tackling that mound of dirt and brown lawn. Trust me, your garden will thank you.

The Benefits of Going Organic
The overwhelming benefits of going green are constantly touted in newspapers, magazines and on the TV news. Cutting out harsh chemicals is without a doubt safer for you, your family and your pets. A recent study by The Soil Association even found that organic vegetables have higher concentrations of many important vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium.

With benefits like that, it’s worth the extra effort to plant a garden without traditional chemical fertilizers.

Don’t Forget your Lawn

While I’m thinking about fertilizers, let’s address your lawn situation. An organic garden will look sad next to dead, brown grass. It’s a package deal, remember?

Rather than dumping harsh chemicals on your lawn to get it going at the beginning of spring, you can incorporate organic lawn fertilizer into your backyard at any time during the growing season.

The fertilizer will begin transforming your lawn in about five days and lasts up to eight weeks.

Don’t Go Overboard

When you visit your local nursery, you may become overwhelmed with all of your choices. But if this is the first time you’re growing an organic garden, start small. Vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are staples in any garden and easy to grow.

Most organic seedlings come with growing instructions – make sure you follow them to ensure your veggies are correctly planted and cared for.

Caring for your Organic Garden and Lawn

When rainfall is low, make sure you’re regularly watering your garden and lawn. Your lawn should get about an inch of water a week. Your vegetables depend on the type – follow the growing instructions to make sure you’re giving them exactly what they need.

An organic mulch can help prevent weeds, but you will still have to weed some and prune plants to keep them producing vegetables. Your lawn will need less maintenance, but the grass will still need to be cut, and, depending on the organic lawn fertilizer you choose, you may need to reapply another one to three times during the growing season.

With a little planning and preparation, you can create your ideal backyard with a green, lush lawn and a bountiful organic garden. Happy planting!

This guest post brought to you by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger, who loves blogging, usually about her passion for her organic garden and experience with protecting her home with organic products, such as the ultimate flea trap.