5 Natural Alternatives to Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides

There’s nothing more appealing to the eye, and that makes a significant first impression as a well-kept green lawn. Over the years, people had formed the habit of using hazardous chemical fertilizers to achieve maximum results in their lawns. With growing knowledge and concerns on the effects of these chemicals, more and more are now embracing organic fertilizers.

If you knew how much damage you were doing to yourself and your loved ones through chemical fertilizers to keep your lawn pretty, you would think of suing yourself in court. Consider how these natural gardening methods will change your mentality. Here’s what you got to know.

Why Keep Off Chemical Fertilizers?

Homemade lawn fertilizers are not only going to save you on unnecessary costs of purchase, but they also carry a myriad of health benefits. It is the best-case scenario of prevention being considered better than curing. But what exactly are the dangers associated with chemical fertilizers, and why should you clench organic lawn fertilizers with open arms?

Lawn care chemicals are not only a risk to you and your family but also to your neighbor, the environment, birds, and the ecosystem in general. They can affect you if you come into contact with them through their toxic vapor, skin contact, or even mouth and dust.

The nitrates, potassium and phosphorous chemicals, pyrethroids, MCPA, organochlorines, and other herbicides such as 2,4-D, phenoxy, carbonates, and benzoic are now established to be major causes of carcinogenicity. They bring about other health challenges, including kidney damage, neurotoxicity, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, and hormonal imbalance. Moreover, their effects can remain on the soil and grass for months, thus placing your kids’ lives in more danger. It would help if you were careful next time when considering inorganic lawn care techniques.

How to Take Care of My Lawn Using Eco-friendly Methods?

It is estimated that in America alone, an average of 100 million pounds of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides are used on lawns alone. If this number doesn’t scare the life out of you after having realized what you are exposing yourself and your family to, wonder what will! Whereas the organic lawn fertilizers won’t do 99.99% of the work played by chemical techniques, they are still efficient and will leave you with no regrets for some years to come. They include:

1. Bug the Bugger

Using predatory pests for pest control is now a commonly accepted method. These pests are most efficient during the infant larvae stages of bugs such as mole cricket, billbugs, white grubs, sod webworm, green bugs, and June bugs. You should introduce a kind of a pest that’s passive to the grass but otherwise predatory to the bugs. It may take quite some time honestly for you to witness viable changes, but it’s worth the time and risk.

2. Prevention Conquers Cure

Different pests are associated with different areas and regions. In such a case, preventing the pest attack in your backyard garden or lawn would be the best option. It might force you to consider cultivating a grass variety that is resistant to the pest in question. It might limit your options, but you just never know.

3. Organic Fertilizers

These are known to have an almost similar composition to industrial fertilizers but have the added advantage that they won’t cause anyone any harm. These organic fertilizers will go a long way to enhance productivity and the healthy development of your lawns and gardens. Over time, these homemade lawn fertilizers will also reduce the cost of taking care of your garden and lawn. The initial costs may exceed industrial methods, but the soil enrichment gained cannot be compensated.

These may include ground manure from animal waste, which can be spread lightly, minimally processed sewage, or one can even use plant wastes from cut-outs made during lawn mowing. Leave the plant clippings behind to will act as food to your tended lawn. Corn gluten not only exterminates the weeds but also adds nutrients to your soil.

4. Basic Lawn Care Methods

Lawn care techniques can be carried out to reduce general costs as part of homemade lawn fertilizers. These include annual aeration, deep watering frequently during early morning hours, and improve soil fertility through the discussed homemade lawn fertilizers. Furthermore, you can practice overseeding by regularly adding grass seed to your already existing lawn to fill up the patchy areas.

Make regular inspections to assess the status of your lawn and check for pests – this can be done both at night and during the daytime as some pests come alive in the dark. To avoid spoiling the grass, create pathways for people to pass – this will save you a ton of hassle.

5. Electric Lawn Mowers

Consider using electric lawn mowers rather than gas-power, which pollute the environment. The challenge is – even though they have improved efficiency and reduced running costs – getting an extension power cord that will reach out to every nook of your lawn. Also, if possible, prevent your grass from growing too fast.

Conclusion

We hope you are now better equipped to try out our natural gardening methods. In the light of things, would you consider applying these techniques in the long run and forget chemical fertilizers? Give your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.