Angel's Lawn Care

San Antonio, TX
ph: 210-704-7276
Angel@AngelsLawnCare-SA.com

Organic Gardening Info

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:

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.
Eliminates Thatch ... dirt brought to surface with the cores incerases the growth of micro-organisms which break down thatch layers into useful humus.
Stronger Root Zone ... aeration alllows the root system to spread out and breathe, eliminating a root-bound turf.
Helps Insect Control ... by eliminating thatch and ventilating the root zone, aeration destroys natural homes for undersirable insects.
Helps Fungus Control ... the air movement or ventilation retards fungus developments.
More efficient use of fertilizer and other nutrients ... a more absorbent turf will respond to fertilizer quicker and longer than a root-bound turf.
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

Natural food source for microbes in the soil
Ant control
Promotes activity that results in carbon. Carbon aids in the soil structure and water holding capacity
Good supply of B vitamins
High in natural minerals, enzymes and amino acids
Excellent nitrogen source
Increases sugar levels which improves resistance to chewing and sucking insects

FERTILIZER

Provides a balanced nutrient supply
Aids in the production of vegetation and is important in the growth anddevelopment of plants (grass)
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:

Cause fertilizer to feed slower, preventing quick weak, disease prone growth
Improve drainage
Increase the amount of beneficial oganisms in the soil by adding bacteria and worms among others which support plant growth
Breaks up tight soils which allows the roots to spread and air to penetrate
Build a better water holding capacity
Improves nutrient content of the soil
Balances both acid and alkaline soils bringing the pH level into range for nutrient availability
Helps to build strong roots
Increase disease resistance
Alters the texture and structure of the soil and increase the resistance to erosion
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.

Site last updated 08/05/10.

San Antonio, TX
ph: 210-704-7276
Angel@AngelsLawnCare-SA.com