Sustainability: Treating Turf with a Modified Organics Program

“Organic” is an increasingly popular word in the landscape industry, as more and more clients ask for environmentally-friendly lawn, tree and shrub care choices. At the same time, some misconceptions exist with regard to what constitutes organic care.

Organics are like holistic medicine for the lawn. But even holistic medicine must sometimes be supplemented with traditional care because occasionally, diseases or infestations do require sterner measures. It’s how one handles these situations that determines the level of environmental responsibility.

Using a “modified organics program” that is as environmentally-friendly as possible is often the most effective approach to providing the best care. For example, building good soil is the foundation of successful gardens, lawns and landscapes. Nitrogen sources used from feathermeal, bone meal, blood meal and kelp help by increasing the organic content of soils, which keeps lawns healthy.

Sensible lawn care can be achieved by avoiding chemical treatments where possible, choosing the chemicals that are used very carefully and taking the time to find the least toxic solution to problems. Consistently providing good integrated pest management practices goes a long way toward significantly reduced pesticide usage.

Rejuvenating the Soil and Cultural Practices

An organic approach to lawn care that works in concert with nature’s own system of checks and balances is the best way to help build a healthy, sustainable lawn. Always use the proper seed blend and vary the plantings in any landscape; biodiversity is one of Mother Nature’s clever tricks for achieving balance. Sharpen mower blades every day and recycle grass clippings to improve organic matter and provide another natural source of nitrogen. Cut at near three inches to shade the soil and discourage weed growth. It also helps to keep the soil cooler through the summer months.

Some lawn care professionals recommend not watering more than three days a week. Watering longer and less frequently allows the water to penetrate further into the soil profile, encouraging root growth and health. A good overseeding plan in the fall will be the most effective and friendly weed killer next spring.

The additives mixed in base solutions also provide a variety of nutrients for soil. Bio-stimulants and micronutrients improve soil structure and aid in superior uptake of NPK and minor elements. To enhance natural aerification of the soil, use a soil penetrate that breaks water tension and aids in moving water more evenly through the soil profile. Humic and fulvic acids enhance nutrient availability. L-amino acid substrates and plant metabolites promote superior root mass and make nutrients in the soil more readily available to plants. As fungi and bacteria colonize the root zone, they form a symbiotic relationship with the roots. They provide nutrients to the roots and, in return, get carbon in the form of sugars.

Many lawn programs overuse nitrogen to enhance lawn color and vigor, resulting in a tremendous spurt of top growth while stressing the grass and doing nothing to promote root growth and health. Chelated iron added to the treatment mix produces a deep green color without promoting excessive top growth. Iron allows a very conservative 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year.

In colder weather, calcium nitrate addition is useful. The calcium helps build thicker, stronger cell walls in the leaf, while the nitrate promotes nutrient response at lower soil temperatures and reduces the sodium levels in the soil. Adding a potassium-based fertilizer and compost tea to the mix prior to stressful periods improves the turf’s resistance to disease, thus reducing the need to use fungicides.

Whatever is Prudent and Necessary

Over time, application methods and rates have changed to reflect technological and product advancements. Many ask, “What exactly do you apply and when?” The best answer is: “Whatever is prudent and necessary.”

Companies could have a five-application organics plan, but the final formulation for any given application round is based on weather, rainfall, and changing seasonal pressures from temperature, pests and pathogens. One significant change for some businesses was the integration of tree trunk injections. This is a very effective way to solve problems and the closed system leaves no chemical residue behind. One set of injections can last up to two years.

Pesticides are still needed for certain situations, but many problems can be remedied using a holistic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Contractors have been known to spray garlic oil with good success for flea, tick and mosquito applications.

Horticultural oil applications also produce good results. In treating crabgrass, for example, a pre-emergent called prodiamine is effective, precise and water-insoluble, so it does not enter the surface water or ground water. Corn gluten can be used as an organic alternative, but it requires 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet, is very expensive and, on first application, only about 60-percent effective. Because corn gluten is 10-percent nitrogen, that means applying 2 pounds of nitrogen at one time and would result in an increase in fungus problems, particularly in the summer when those pressures are highest.

Recently, DuPont launched a new insecticide called Acelepryn, which works at extremely low doses, and has an excellent toxicological and environmental profile. It has been classified as a reduced-risk insecticide by the EPA and is labeled for surface feeding and subsurface feeding pests (grubs).

An organic alternative to killing weeds can be grass seed. If grass is kept thick and healthy, weeds have no chance to emerge. In many cases, if weeds are controlled, they can be treated and removed individually as they are few and far between.

The Artificial Turf Option

As a component of bio-friendly lawns, artificial turf can also be a great option, especially for backyard recreational areas.

Some new products on the market now outperform previous materials and retain the look of freshly mowed grass. One product for children’s play areas, for example, has a top layer of artificial turf made from a blend of polyethylene and nylon thatch fibers that simulate a fine blade fescue or blue grass. A sand infill holds the green fibers in place, and the turf rests on top of a cushioning layer made from 90-percent recycled foam rubber to absorb impact. This pad also allows for fast drainage, so children aren’t bouncing in mud, and is also non-toxic and non-flammable. Both the pad and turf are anti-microbial and 100-percent recyclable.

The advantages of such a product are many. It provides a true cushioning for falls, discourages insects, eliminates the need to mow and trim, it stays clean and dry and still looks like a green lawn. Similar products are available for maintenance-free backyard golf greens, as well as tennis and basketball courts.

Back to Basics

In a world of instant gratification, the time it takes to achieve optimal results with organic treatments may seem lengthy, with results taking up to one year to manifest themselves. But clients soon learn that, for the sake of a healthy lawn and a healthy environment, it can be well worth the wait.