Lawns are an arbitrary concept. They do not exist in nature independent of man's intervention. Therefore, the first step in moving to caring for a lawn naturally is to shift your mental concept of what a lawn is or should be.

Consider having more garden space, a prairie or herb garden, small berry bushes to attract birds and contemplate the sweet taste of dandelion wine. But if you still want a yard of green grass follow these simple guidelines for a healthy naturally green and robust lawn.

1. Mow often and mow high. Set you lawn mower at 2" to 3" to develop deeper roots and crowd out weeds.

2. Leave your grass clippings on the lawn. "Grasscycling" provides free fertilizer. Your hand mower will do the job fine if you keep the blades sharp. Consider buying a " mulching" lawn mower. This will cut the grass clippings finer and blow them into the lawn.

3. Water deeply but infrequently. Grass does better when watered to the root zone and then allowed to dry out. Water slowly starting and stopping to give the water time to sink in.

4. Use organic slow-release fertilizer in September and May. If you choose to fertilize only once then do so in Fall. Over fertilized lawns are prone to disease, thatch buildup and drought damage.

5. Over seed in the Spring or Fall after aerating or raking.

6. Remove unwanted weeds by hand pulling. The above strategies will serve to decrease your weed population by crowding them out with healthy grass.

What can you do?

Place a " Pesticide-Free" lawn sign on your lawn and gently nudge your neighbor's awareness of alternative methods of lawn care. Help them to understand that if your lawn does not look like a lush green carpet it is not because you are lazy or because you cannot afford to have chemical lawn spraying. It is because you support a healthier safer pesticide free environment.

Sources

www.ciseattle.wa.us/util/rescons/n-6step.htm