It's that time of year!The weather is cooler, some days have a nip in the air, some days are warm as toast, and the early leaves of Fall are dropping.
This is the perfect time to get your lawn in great shape to take on the Winter weather, and come out looking fabulously green, healthy and lush come Spring.
So let's get started!
First let's talk about why you should plan, build and maintain an organic garden.
Several organizations and groups have done studies that showcase the affects and dangers of commercial chemical lawn chemicals on dogs and children, including:
- The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, found and reported in July 2013 that exposure to herbicide-treated lawns has been associated with significantly higher bladder cancer risk in dogs.
- The January 2012 issue of the journal Environmental Research concluded that exposure to professionally applied lawn pesticides was associated with a significantly (70 percent) higher risk of canine malignant lymphoma (CML).
- Information regarding exposure to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens increases the risk of bladder cancer by four to seven times in Scottish Terriers was researched and reported in a study by Purdue University veterinary researchers published in the April 15, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association.
- In 1991, the National Institutes of Health found elevated rates of canine lymphoma in dogs exposed to lawn pesticides (1991).
- A respected report and DVD "The Truth About Cats, Dogs and Lawn Chemicals," funded by Newman’s Own Foundation, has a lot of information for you to learn about the dangers and effects of lawn chemicals on your pets.
Fall is one of our favorite times to really work to get our lawn in shape, the weather is cooler and you can even grow new grass this time of year.
Here are our favorite fall organic lawn gardening tips that you can implement, easily!
Pull those weeds! Forget about spraying....the most effective way of getting rid of weeds is by pulling. And the fun part is that you get to be outside, spend time with your dog, and perhaps they can help you pull a few of those nasty weeds.
Got leaves? A wonderful, healthy thing you can do for your lawn is to mow over many of the leaves that fall in your yard and create wonderful, organic mulch that increases the nutrients provided and creates healthy grass growth. If you have too many leaves, gather them up and add to your organic compost pile. Then come spring add the compost to your lawn, flower and vegetable garden.
Re-seed! Another of the most important things for a great looking lawn is seeding, seeding and more seeding. Re-seeding fills in those gaps that weeds like, creating a wonderful, healthy, lush lawn. We reseed many times throughout the year, but Fall is the best time. Make sure that you purchase seed that doesn't have added growth hormone coatings and added chemical fertilizer.
Fertilize the organic way! About four weeks after you've reseeded, add some great organic fertilizer to your lawn to create strong plantings. We like several types of organic fertilizers, from worm poo and fish emulsions (which are sprays) to pellet based fertilizers made from feather meal, bone meal, and/or soybean meal. Check with your local garden shop for organic recommendations.
If you follow all of these organic and lawn building tips this fall, we know you'll have one of the most envied green, lush lawns in the neighborhood without the use of dangerous chemicals.
Happy Fall!
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