Organic Lawn Care May Not Be the Best Choice; the Decision Depends on What's Important to a Homeowner.
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (PRWEB) April 30, 2018 -- Many homeowners struggle between choosing Organic Lawn Care or going with a Traditional Lawn Treatment Program. There’s a lot to consider. While Traditional Lawn Care Programs give quick results, Organic Lawn Care Programs will take time to produce a thick, green lawn. The experts at Giroud Tree & Lawn suggest the following advice to homeowners.
Decide What’s most important
Homeowners should consider what kind of lawn is desired. Is the goal to have a lush, thick green lawn? Are there concerns about children and pets? Is there a preference for chemical free treatments? Should a specific part of the property be targeted for treatments?
Meet with a Lawn Care Specialist
Have a Lawn Care Specialist do a full lawn evaluation to determine the current condition of the lawn and explain what can be realistically expected from each type of program. The lawn will be assessed on many health and beauty indicators including thickness, color and weed or insect issues. Also, soil test samples will be pulled from several places around the property to diagnose the pH level.
Choosing the Best Program
Homeowners will see faster results with a traditional lawn care program. Weed and Insect problems are attacked head on with fertilizer and herbicide treatments that are custom blended to match the season and growing conditions.
If completely chemical-free lawn care is what a homeowner is seeking, patience is key to success. Giroud recommends an organic lawn care program that focuses on strengthening and improving the condition of the soil and the grass root system. Weeds are combated by slowly crowding out the weeds while strengthening the grass roots. This process is slower and it may even take a few seasons to get the lawn to an ideal state of beauty.
1. If the soil pH level is low, a natural Lime application is needed to reduce the acidity and create a thriving environment for growing grass.
2. An organic soil conditioner with a lower fertilizer is applied in the beginning of the program.
3. As the weather warms up, the fertilizer content will be increased, and it will have a higher nitrogen content to green up the grass and promote top growth.
4. In late summer, another round of conditioner will be applied to give the soil an added boost to last through the season. The lawn will receive a few more vital treatments of organic fertilizer at the end of the season because, even when the cold hits, the soil underneath stays warm and the root system continues to benefit from the nutrients applied.
5. Aeration and Seeding in the fall are important steps in the process. Aeration breaks up heavy, compacted soil or heavy thatch and allows the lawn to breath and grow by opening access to air, water and nutrients. It promotes deeper grass root growth, makes turf more tolerant of heat and drought, and provides an excellent base for seeding.
If homeowners prefer organic but the lawn is thin or weed infested, they can jump start the process with a traditional program to make the lawn thick and healthy. Then, shift to an organic program to keep it green and chemical free.
“You can have a completely organic program and have a green lawn that has different kinds of grasses, clovers, even some weeds,” explains Mike Taraborrelli, Giroud’s Lawn Care Manager, “It’s still going to look vibrant and healthy. If you want that green carpet effect, you need to start with traditional. When you get your lawn to where you want it, you can ease into an organic program.”
The Bottom Line to Choosing a Lawn Care Program
Every lawn is different, so it’s important that homeowners work with a lawn care specialist to custom tailor a program that works best for the property. Proper mowing, keeping grass at least 3”-4” high, and regular, deep watering will create a thriving environment for a lawn to accept treatments, no matter what kind of program is being used on the property.
About Giroud Tree and Lawn
Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, lawn care and mosquito and tick control programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal, traditional and 100% organic lawn programs and mosquito and tick control. Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company is Accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association and Better Business Bureau. Giroud has also been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award® every year since 2005. The “Giroud Treework for Charity” program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Company’s service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.
Cindy Giroud, Giroud Tree & Lawn, http://www.giroudtree.com, +1 (215) 682-7704, [email protected]
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