LAWN LESSONS

In addition to being safer and more environmentally friendly, an organic lawn will also appear nicer.

- MICHAEL FELDMANN

Is your lawn the bad side of gardening, endlessly sucking in your time, energy, and money? You fertilize, mow, water, mow, spread pesticides, mow and mow some more? Well, it doesn't have to be that way.

A lawn is a complex community of plants, insects and microorganisms, and the more we understand it, the easier it will be to successfully maintain. Organic lawn care is labor-intensive, but at least we aren't working against ourselves and the environment with toxic chemicals. And actually, maintaining a lawn organically isn't difficult; with proper planting and care, nearly anyone can successfully grow a healthy, green lawn.

LAWN MAINTENANCE

Whether your lawn is large or small, it needs regular maintenance to look its best. Weekly mowing during the growing season takes up the most time, but the lawn also needs frequent feeding, dethatching and other care to stay green and healthy.

MOWING: Sharpen your mower blade at the start of each season to ensure that the grass blades are cut rather than torn. To keep grass healthy and vigorous, remove only 1/3 of the top growth each time you mow. The optimal mowing height depends on the variety of grass, but in general, the higher you cut your grass, the deeper its roots will develop, strengthening its resistance to heat and drought.

Low grasses, such as zoysia and Bermudagrass, should be cut no shorter than 1 inch; preferably 1½ inches. Cut taller-growing grasses, such as tall fescue and bluegrass, no shorter than 2 inches; 2½ to even 3 inches is better.

Mow high during summer droughts. Set the highest setting on your mower blade if the grass is really tall. Reduce the blade height for the following two mowings until you are cutting at the standard height.