Most homeowners use a conventional approach of chemical pesticides to control the insects that plague lawns. Chinch bugs, grubs, and other insects pose a threat to a lush green lawn. One of the first steps to encourage biodiversity is to recognize that not ALL insects are bad. A biodiverse lawn offers built-in pest control with beneficial insects and birds that take care of pests. working with nature, rather than against.
Feed the Soil
We often tell folks, “Healthy soil, healthy lawn”. One common mistake we make with our lawns is a “weed and feed” strategy to kill weeds. This chemical herbicides and fertilizers approach may help kill weeds, but it completely ignores the underlying soil, where biodiversity begins. Keeping us on a conventional treadmill of depleting our soil and then needing to prop it up again with chemical fertilizers.
Healthy soil is teaming with life, from earthworms to beneficial organisms that keep pests at bay. Chemical fertilizers send earthworms and beneficial organisms running for the hills and chemicals running off into bodies of water where they damage the local ecosystem. Those who like to fish, would rather catch big healthy fish. And even if fishing doesn’t come to mind as a relaxing time, we‘d all like to enjoy clean lakes and rivers.
Cultivating healthy soil for your lawn is no quick fix, it typically takes a year of dedication to the process before the greener results surface.
Here‘s how to bring back health and biodiversity to your lawn.
#1) Leave mulched up lawn and leaves on your lawn after mowing, you allow those nutrients to return to the soil. Be sure to use a mulching mower attachment or find a lawn service that mulch mows rather than bags.
#2) Top-dressing with quality double-screened compost is the best way to nourish your soil / lawn naturally. Noticeably greener grass straight away, and a healthy smorgasbord for microorganisms.
#3) Organic fertilizer that not only feeds the grass, but the microorganisms in the soil too. With the added benefit of NOT potentially “burning” the grass nor chemical run-off to our favorite fishing hole.
Go Native With Turf
There are no hard and fast rules stating that your lawn must be entirely made up of one species of grass. The Houston region and your neighborhood varies. The amount of shade in your yard will determine which species of grass will perform best. There are a wide variety of native grasses that you can plant in place of and amongst conventional turf grasses. Native grasses offer some distinct advantages. They add hardiness, reduce the need for irrigation, provide pest and disease resistance and, of course, encourage biodiversity. They may be more difficult to establish because they must be sown as seed instead of laid as sod, but the benefits they offer are vast.
Need help making a plan for your lawn? Greener Gardeners is a Houston-based, family-owned and operated, eco-friendly lawn and garden service. We offer compost top-dressing and an Organic Lawn Program to take the guesswork out of a greener healthier lawn. Happy to help you add more biodiversity to your yard - contact us today for a free estimate!