The organic industry has gained enormous popularity over the last decade as people look to become conscious consumers for the benefit of their health and the planet. If you go into any store, you’ll come across different organic products, from food to cleaning supplies to even organic lawn care. It’s evident consumers are demanding goods that align with a sustainable way of living for basic tasks like lawn maintenance — and there’s good reason for it.
The movement to not use harmful chemicals such as weed and feed products is only growing in popularity, and some cities such as Portland, Oregon, have outright banned their use altogether. The restrictions set are namely because of the negative health effects associated with synthetic pesticides and herbicides that have been linked to diseases in humans such as cancer. With that said, organic lawn care might seem like less of a trend and more like the future.
There are easy ways to make your lawn organic. Organic lawn care products tend to use more natural earthy materials from plants and animals, such as compost, leaf mulch, animal manure, and worm castings. They naturally fertilize your lawn and do wonders for the soil.
Organic lawn care helps the soil thrive
Organic lawn fertilizers feed the soil and improve its vitality by encouraging the growth of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, and nematodes. In every way, you’re working with nature instead of against it and keeping the soil’s ecosystem healthy and alive. The microorganisms naturally make the grass stronger, and your lawn will become more resistant to disease and pests from year to year.
Organic options do initially take a bit longer to kick in and achieve results compared to synthetic fertilizers, but long-term your yard will be better off. Although synthetic fertilizers give your plants an immediate boost of nutrients and growth, the chemicals actually weaken your grass and cause more harm than good. Over time, the roots will become shallow and more vulnerable to drought. Plus, much of the chemical application applied washes off your lawn, and the contaminated runoff ends up in our waterways.
Synthetic fertilizers harm the environment and your health
The synthetic nitrogen in traditional fertilizers is terrible for creeks and rivers and the chemicals can cause harmful algae blooms which have contributed to fish deaths in the past. Beyond water quality issues, synthetic lawn care is fueling the climate crisis as a whole by releasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Organic fertilizers and pesticides tend to be better for the planet because they release nutrients slowly. This means less chemical leaching and soil erosion problems, so waterways stay cleaner and the overall carbon footprint created is far less.
And beyond protecting the planet, organic lawn care protects you and your pets. Dogs can become seriously ill when exposed to chemical pesticides. And as far as human health goes, some chemicals that are used in pesticides have been linked to cancer. It is certainly a lot of information to take in, but there are many reasons to consider the best natural fertilizers for your lawn. Collectively, if everyone moved toward organic lawn care the positive impact would be substantial.
