Does Organic Lawn Care Really Matter?

While many of us recognize the value of native plants, tearing up our lawns and planting wildflower meadows is not a realistic course of action in most neighborhoods. Ecologically, lawns are often considered a desert since they contain and support so few species. If we go below the blade, however, there is an opportunity to both improve the appearance of your lawn and make your lawn more ecologically valuable. I’m talking about soil health. By focusing on feeding the soil, you can improve the appearance of your lawn, create more resilient turf, and increase the number of microorganisms in your soil. 
While traditional high-nitrogen fertilizers may cause turf to “green up”, this effect is short-lived and soon your stressed out grass will be wanting more. Traditional fertilizers can act like a sugar rush for your lawn, causing fast growth that needs water and ultimately more high-nitrogen fertilizer to be sustained. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, feed the microorganisms in the soil which will in turn will break down nutrients and make them available to your grass. This creates a natural “slow-release” mechanism that fosters consistent growth and improved turf health. 

By feeding the soil, the organic matter in your lawn will increase and, over time, you will need less fertilizer and water to maintain high quality turf. This increased resilience will also make your lawn better able to handle periods of drought, as well as increase its disease resistance.  This makes your lawn even more environmentally-friendly by reducing the need for irrigation and pesticides. 

While we mostly think about the plants and animals above ground, microorganisms also contribute to biodiversity, carbon-fixing, and overall ecological health. Basically, just because your lawn may only contain a few species of grass doesn’t mean that it can’t be growing on top of a thriving community of microorganisms! Invisible to the naked eye, these good bacteria and fungi produce food for your grass, can pull carbon out of the air and into the soil, and improve all aspects of your soil, such as texture, drainage, water holding capacity, and more.

So, if you’re going to have a lawn, go organic! It's not only safe for the environment (and pets and people), it actually improves the ecological function of your yard. 

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