Environmental Forum: Nov. 2000, The Organic Approach

With consumer concerns and anti-pesticide legislation on the rise, organic lawn care is garnering more attention as an effective approach to residential turf maintenance. While these programs vary depending on the provider, certain practices and philosophies are consistent throughout this expanding niche market.

For starters, an organic lawn care program often is a blend of organic and integrated pest management (IPM) techniques. "Organics and IPM go hand-in-hand," noted Dan Sutherland, president, Gro Pro Organic Lawns, West Warwick, R.I, adding that his program uses organic-based fertilizer, cultural practices and, if absolutely necessary, synthetic pesticides to spot control pests or weeds.

Similarly, Phil Catron, president, NaturaLawn of America, Frederick, Md., takes a three-part approach to organic lawn care: To prevent, monitor and control any problems. Prevention, of course, is the ideal, and Catron said this can be accomplished with the first focus. For example, he recommended using certain endophyte-enhanced turf types that will resist insect pressure.

From a monitoring standpoint, Catron advocates collecting a broad range of data on the lawn to ensure soil health, such as checking the soil temperature at a 3-inch-depth, comparing that information from year to year to better anticipate when outbreaks may occur.

A key concept for control is spot treating. "It makes no sense for us to treat an entire lawn," Catron pointed out. "If I cut my finger, I don’t wrap my entire body in gauze."

Gary Roux, president, Grounds Crew, Monroeville, Pa., agreed, noting that spot treating can reduce pesticide use and cost.

In addition, Roux noted that sound cultural practices are a critical component of an organic lawn care program. These steps include sharpening mower blades, mowing at a good height to establish a thick turf and diligently scouting for weeds. He also advised checking soil pH regularly since certain weeds can flourish when this is off.

GOING ORGANIC. Organic lawn care means looking at turf as part of a larger system, according to Catron. "Because the soil is full of organisms, it needs to be fed and then the plant gets fed," he said.

"A good plant starts with healthy soil," Roux added. "You need to make the soil healthy and get the microbial activity going." Once soil needs are being met and providing a healthy foundation for turf, the lawn will need less attention, Roux described, comparing a healthy lawn to any other thriving, living organism. "If a person is healthy and strong, they don’t need medication to keep on going," he noted.

To practice organic lawn care properly, soil development and IPM need to be used together, Catron advised, noting that these approaches have been around for ages.

Still, an organic lawn care program isn’t for every company. To build a successful organic program, a company must dedicate more time, energy and resources than if it followed a conventional lawn care approach, according to Catron. "This is not something you do for a season or a month. You’ve got to be in it for the long haul," he advised.

Since an organic program can be more detail-oriented and labor intensive, finding the right employees can be a challenge.

In his experience, Roux has found the need to hire "sharper" people, he said. "An organic/IPM program takes a brighter individual," he noted. "There is a longer learning curve."

An organic lawn care company must hold ongoing training for its employees, Catron advised. "(Training) is not a rainy day event," he said, adding that having regular training sessions every three to four weeks is ideal.

While an organic program often costs customers more initially because of the price of organic products, training and education, it’s an investment that pays for itself over time, Catron asserted, adding that, organic lawn care companies benefit from fewer service calls and lower cancellation rates.

Roux disagreed with the claim that organic programs cost more. While this approach might cost more at first, he acknowledged, once the lawn care company gets the lawn under control, the ongoing costs for lawn care services are much less. Compared to conventional lawn care, an organic approach "really can be the same or better while limiting the amount of chemical use," Roux observed.

The author is Associate Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine.