During the growing season, questions about lawn or turf care are quite common at the Champaign County Extension office in Illinois. Among the many questions we receive, there is growing interest in natural or more sustainable lawn care practices.
Many perceive this goal of a more sustainable lawn with less use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers as more complicated than traditional lawn care practices, which incorporate the use of readily available and highly marketed synthetic products. However, sustainable lawn care is simply a different system that is no more complicated than traditional methods; it just requires attention to a different set of details.
Much like organic gardening, the basis for natural lawn care lies in healthy soils, which are the foundation for a healthy lawn. Within our soil lies an incredibly diverse ecosystem that is often overlooked since it is difficult to directly observe. This biologically active resource provides nutrients, water and oxygen to the turf growing in your lawn.
Deficient soil ecosystems often result in a greater occurrence of disease and insect problems, as well as increased weed pressure and poorly performing stands of grass.
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