When deciding on a lawn care program for your lawn, one of the first questions to consider is traditional lawn care or organic lawn care. They are both similar in many ways but each also has their own unique benefits.
Traditional Lawn Care
Traditional lawn care uses synthetic fertilizers and herbicides to control weeds. Traditional lawn care is a less expensive option to homeowners as well as better with the short-term effects of weed control and color.
The traditional season usually begins with pre-emergent fertilizer. Pre-emergent herbicide is bound with synthetic fertilizer and once watered in, creates a barrier to prevent the germination of crabgrass and other weeds. This is one benefit of having the traditional program, as pre-emergent is not as readily available in an organic form or ends up being too costly for homeowners.
Traditional lawn care also has the benefit of adding more nitrogen to the lawn quickly with fast and slow release fertilizers. This nitrogen boost in the spring allows for a quicker green up. Traditional lawn care also has better herbicide weed control sprays. Because they are manmade, the herbicide and fertilizer are more custom tailored to do certain things than an organic would be.
Organic Lawn Care
Organic lawn care is a great option for homeowners. Organic lawn care is more environmentally friendly however it is a more expensive option compared to traditional law care. One way to think about organic lawn care is to work with nature, rather than against nature.
Organic lawn care is meant to enhance the soil chemistry of the lawn over time, usually a 3 year plan. By enhancing the soil chemistry, the lawn will develop a better root system and thicker turf that is able to choke out weeds and eventually can eliminate the need for weed control products.
A true organic program will not use synthetic fertilizers or herbicides, therefore the color may not be as green as quickly with a synthetic fertilizer. Organic herbicides work well to control weeds, but may not be as quick or as long term as the synthetic herbicides.
Mixed Lawn Care
Some homeowners want the best of both worlds and opt to have a mixed lawn care program. A mixed lawn care program allows for the benefits of each program. This will also consist of mixed cost which can be a little friendlier on homeowners’ wallets than a strictly organic program.
A mixed lawn care program will typically consist of all organic fertilizer after the early spring pre-emergent and synthetic fertilizer application as well as herbicide sprays throughout the year. Having this plan allows for better weed control and a quicker green up in the spring all while establishing the pre-emergent barrier for crabgrass and building soil chemistry for long term results with the organic fertilizer.
Sum it up
Whether you decide to take the route of a traditional program or an organic program or even mix it up and incorporate both into your program, the lawn will greatly benefit from the maintenance. Any lawn care program is better for the lawn than not having a lawn care program at all.
It is always a good idea to consult with a lawn care professional and ask any questions you may have. Look around, ask friends or family, and research companies on the Better Business Bureau to find a company that you can trust.