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  10 Tips To A Healthy Lawn Without Unhealthy Chemicals

1. Choose the right grass Choose to use drought-tolerant grass seeds. Spread them on your lawn every fall. Over-seeding is good. Remember, that a thick lawn will crowd out weeds. Bluegrass is unsuited for most areas.

2. Mow high High grass keeps out weeds. Always keep your lawn mower blade sharp and at a height of 3 inches. Try not to cut off more than one-third of the grass stem at a time.

3. Grass clippings After mowing, leave your grass clippings on the lawn. This returns nutrients to the soil and will reduce your need for fertilizer by 30 percent. Grass clippings are mainly water so they add moisture to your lawn.

4. Top-dress and fertilize In the fall, use a slow-release granular fertilizer. Or, apply a top layer of natural organic matter such as compost (top-dress). (Chemical fertilizers add salt to the soil, kill soil building micro organisms, promote soil compaction, shallow roots, thatch and fungus growth).

5. Aerate your lawn Remove small plugs of earth to allow air and water to get to the roots (aerate). This can be done once a year. A pesticide-free lawn will encourage earthworms, nature's aerators. Compacted soil promotes weeds.

6. Water It is important to allow your lawn to soak up 2-3 cm (1 inch) of water, once a week, early in the morning or late in the evening, to promote deep root growth. If it has rained, adjust your watering. Use a rain gauge to measure water levels. Allow grass to dry out thoroughly between watering.

7. Remove thatch After the snow melts away, Thatch, a thick compacted layer of dead plants and grass, attracts harmful insects. Too much thatch stops water and nutrients from getting to the roots. Remove thatch by gently raking your lawn in late spring or early summer. Aerate. To prevent thatch, don't over water or over fertilize. Reseed bare spots.

8. Dandelion weeds and insectsMost insects are NOT harmful. Some are important to our environment. Cut dandelions out at the root, several inches below the ground. Most wont grow back. Reseed bare spots. Dandelions are beautiful - learn how to make dandelion salad, wine and other useful remedies from dandelions.

9. Control weeds and insects Weeds and their roots can be dug up by hand. Pour boiling water on weeds that are growing between patio stones, etc. Use a stick or your hands to knock insects off plants into a dish of soapy water.

10. Consider alternative plants Alternatives to grass include trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and wild flowers (native species work best)

© Nature-Action Québec 1999

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