Angel's Lawn Care & Irrigation Installation & Repair & Tree Service

 

 

 

 

San Antonio, TX
ph: 210-317-0666

Organic Gardening Info

   
 

 Here at Showplace Lawns we have been doing Organic Gardening or Green Environmentally Friendly Gardening since before it was in style. The following are just a few of the secrets used to make your lawn and garden a showplace.

 

  
 
AERATION
  
  Ways your yard can benefit from aeration are as follows:
  1. More efficient use of water ... aeration provides a much more absorbent turf. This allows water to be soaked in and eliminates run off.  Watering requirements can be reducded consideably.
  2. Eliminates Thatch ... dirt brought to surface with the cores incerases the growth of micro-organisms which break down thatch layers into useful humus.
  3. Stronger Root Zone ... aeration alllows the root system to spread out and breathe, eliminating a root-bound turf.
  4. Helps Insect Control ... by eliminating thatch and ventilating the root zone, aeration destroys natural homes for undersirable insects.
  5. Helps Fungus Control ... the air movement or ventilation retards fungus developments.
  6. More efficient use of fertilizer and other nutrients ... a more absorbent turf will respond to fertilizer quicker and longer than a root-bound turf.
  7. Eliminates Compaction ... aeration loosens heavy soils, pathways, and other compacted areas.
  
 
BENEFICIAL NEMATODES
  
  For the average homeowner, organic gardener, or farmer, Beneficial Nematodes offer the greatest value when it comes to biological control due to the wide variety of pests they control and how easy it is to get great results.  Chinch bugs, grubs, ants, fleas, cut worms and over 250 soil dwelling pests that are so difficult to control using other methods are just a tasty mid afternoon snack for Beneficial Nematodes.  90% of all insects spend as least part of their life cycle in the soil and fall prey, most before they enter their adult stage.
 
Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic and live below the soil surface and like a moist enviroment.  Looking like short non-segmented worms these voracious predators make their way through your lawn and garden looking for food.  Nematodes do not harm worms, birds, plants or the environment, in fact they are part of the environment and are found the world over.
 
When the Nematode comes in contact with a pest, they attack by entering through body openings or simply by boring though the body wall, once inside, the Nematode will release a bacteria that kills it's host within 48 hours.  They will feed and reproduce before exiting in search of fresh prey.
 
REMINDER:  In order to keep Nematodes alive and active, you must maintain a regular watering schedule.  Once every 7 to 8 days during Spring or periods of 85 degrees.  Once every 5 to 6 days during Summer or periods above 85 degrees.  Your lawn will do better with this schedule as well. 
  
 

COMPOST TEA
  
  What is Compost Tea?
  • Compost Tea is a highly concentrated microbial solution produced by extracting beneficial microbes from compost.

What are the potential benefits of Compost Tea?

  • Compost Tea Provides:
        A source of foliar & soil nutrients
        Micronutrients for easy plant absorption
        Nutrients in a biologically available form for both plant & microbial uptake
  • Microbial Functions:
        Degrade toxic pesticides and other chemicals
        Produce plant growth hormones
        Mineralizer plant available nutrients
        Fix nitrogen
        Plant surfaces are occupied by beneficial microbes leaving no room for pathogens to infect the plant
        Retain plant nutrients
        Produces good soil structure, improves water filtration
  
 
DRY MOLASSES
  
  1.  Natural food source for microbes in the soil
2.  Ant control
3.  Promotes activity that results in carbon.  Carbon aids in the soil structure and water holding capacity
4.  Good supply of B vitamins
5.  High in natural minerals, enzymes and amino acids
6.  Excellent nitrogen source
7.  Increases sugar levels which improves resistance to chewing and sucking insects
  
 

FERTILIZER
  
  1.  Provides a balanced nutrient supply
2.  Aids in the production of vegetation and is important in the growth and development of plants (grass)
3.  Nutrients are supplied in amounts according to need.  These are called macronutrients (large amounts) and micronutrients (small amounts).  Both are needed in the sustainability and life of plants (grass)
MACRONUTRIENTS MICRONUTRIENTS
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
 Iron
Copper
Boron
Zinc
Manganese
 
 

COMPOST/TOP DRESSING
  
  A strong and healthy lawn incorporates more than mowing, water, fertilizing and weed control.  It should also include top dressing with compost.
 
Compost will do the following:
  1. Cause fertilizer to feed slower, preventing quick weak, disease prone growth
  2. Improve drainage
  3. Increase the amount of beneficial oganisms in the soil by adding bacteria and worms among others which support plant growth
  4. Breaks up tight soils which allows the roots to spread and air to penetrate
  5. Build a better water holding capacity
  6. Improves nutrient content of the soil
  7. Balances both acid and alkaline soils bringing the pH level into range for nutrient availability
  8. Helps to build strong roots
  9. Increase disease resistance
  10. Alters the texture and structure of the soil and increase the resistance to erosion
  11. Single application used as a top dressing will provide two pounds of nitrogen released over the entire growing season
These benefits do not happen immediately.
 
It is recommended that you top dress once every year. 
 
The use of a different kind each year increases the microbial diversity that produces a healthier soil.  The best time to do this is Fall through Winter while the grass is not growing and/or dormant.  Top dressing in Spring or Summer, while the grass is active, could suffocate the grass or slow the growth rate as the grass will have to grow up through the compost.
 
Water the compost in.  Water once a week for 30 minutes to work compost into the soil.

 

 

 

 

 

© 2009 Angels Lawn Care Co. All Rights Reserved.

Site last updated 03/04/10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Antonio, TX
ph: 210-317-0666