I have heard that Sprigs & Twigs has an Organic Lawn Care Program and I'd like to know more about it. My husband puts down bags of stuff on our lawn and I'm worried he's doing something harmful. Thank you. Kathy (Part 4 of 4)
Answer
Hello Kathy
You ask an extremely important question. This is Part 4 of my answer to your question.
Sprigs & Twigs offers the only legitimate, 100% Organic Lawn Care Program in the area; we would be happy to visit with you and explain it in more detail. While it is fashionable for other companies to claim they do "organic" lawn care, they almost always include synthetic chemicals.
The initial step in the Sprigs & Twigs Organic Lawn Care program is to get a picture of what is going on with the health of your soil by performing a comprehensive soil test. Some soils are so damaged by prior chemical lawn care programs that improvement in soil health can take an extended period of time which requires patience to see results, as the turf recovers from the chemicals. Once soil tests are evaluated, a customized organic lawn care program is developed for your lawn that combines steps for overall needed improvement in the soil, regular application of the correct type and amount of nutrients to the grass and improved turf management practices. Here's what these practices look like in action:
1) Perform an annual soil test to determine the pH level (grass likes a pH of 6.5-6.8), percent of organic content; calcium and magnesium levels and several other parameters. A word of caution: never put lime on your lawn unless you have done a soil test first to tell you how much and what type of lime is needed. You can do damage if you apply too much.
2) Cut your grass between 3 1/2"- 4" during the growing season which strengthens the grass and crowds out weeds. Cut with sharp mower blades to make clean cuts and minimize disease.
3) Mulch your grass clippings into the lawn. Leaving mulched grass clippings reduces the amount of additional fertilizer needed and provides organic matter for the soil. Scientists tell us that for every 1 percent increase in organic matter content, soil can hold 16,500 gallons of plant-available water per acre. Leaving your clippings will help drought-proof your lawn. Mulch some of your fallen leaves in the autumn as well.
4) Core-aerate your lawn at least once each year to relieve soil compaction and allow oxygen to get to the root zone of the grass plants. Compaction hinders grass from growing and encourages weeds.
5) Slice-seed or over-seed your lawn each fall to help strengthen the turf and replace the plants that naturally die each year. Over-seeding your lawn in the fall begins effective weed control for the following season. Strong healthy lawns crowd out weeds without applying chemical weed-killers.
The Sprigs & Twigs Organic Lawn Care Program has been administered to hundreds of lawns with great success. If you need assistance or have any questions about natural organic lawn care please contact us at 860-235-0752 or through our web site: www.sprigsandtwigs.net.
Sprigs & Twigs is especially proud that eight members of our staff are Accredited Organic Land Care professionals (AOLCPs) who have passed the rigorous NOFA training program. This is the largest staff of NOFA accredited, trained organic professionals in the country.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
