Organic lawn fertilizer options

http://www.american-lawns.com/lawns/organic.html

More people are asking for information regarding organic lawn care. Most want to
decrease or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on their lawns. The
most common reason is their concern that so-called synthetic lawn products may be
harmful to humans, beneficial insects, wildlife, and pets.

Fertilizers are really just basic building blocks of our environment. However, we've
come to identify these basic building blocks as either inorganic (synthetic) or organic.

Inorganic fertilizers are used in traditional lawncare. More correctly, inorganic fertilizers
are better described as soluble fertilizers. This means all they need is water to be
available for plant absorption.

Organic fertilizers have the same basic chemical make up as inorganics, except for this
one important thing: they have not been processed to the degree that soluble fertilizers
have been processed. For these organic fertilizers to be useful, they will need to go
through an additional step before doing plants any good. That additional step is
performed by microbes living in the soil.

The rhizosphere stimulates microbial activity and microbes also release compounds like
organic acids, enzymes, and chelates that solubilize nutrients.

The juice from microbes breaks down organic matter. As microbes get near the roots
of your turfgrass, the roots stimulate the microbes into producing organic acides,
enzymes and chelates that convert the organic nutrients into a solution that can then
transfer from the soil into the root system. Voila! Almost instant fertilizer. Well, not quite
instant. Ever see how small a microbe is? That's why organic fertilizers take longer for
results to show up in the lawn.

Organic fertilizers are more expensive pound-for-pound than inorganic's. Organics

take longer to work, but your microbes are happier, and in the long run, your lawn will be
happier too.

Limited scientific research has been done on exclusively natural organic lawn care
programs. However, well-documented research has been done on many practices that are
integral to organic lawn care such as core aeration, increased mowing heights, and top-
dressing with compost.

Recommendations for a completely natural organic approach are therefore based on years
of collective experience.
How do I fertilize organically?
There is a growing number of commercial organic dry fertilizers, such as Epsoma,
Ringers, Greensense, and Texas Tee. These products are protein based and can be readily
digested by soil microbes. The major source of these commercial fertilizers include
ground corn, feather meal, alfalfa, cottonseed, corn gluten meal, soy, and other grains.
Any ground seed or bean is good as an organic fertilizer including used coffee grounds.
These same ingredients can also be purchased in bulk form from farm or feed stores.

A good application rate for these grain based fertilizers is 10-20 pounds per 1,000 square
feet. Organic fertilizer may be applied any day, any time of day, rain or shine without
fear of hurting the turf. The only exception is that organic fertilizers are not as effective
in cold weather simply because the microbes don't like to work when it's too cold. Under
normal growing season weather, it takes about 3 weeks for the microbes to process the
protein to a degree sufficient enough for the benefits can be seen in the grass.

How do I get started in an organic program?

Getting started is as easy as stopping the use of inorganic fertilizers and switching over to
an organics program. It's a good idea to get your soil in good condition first—that means
plenty of microbe activity. This can be done by replenishing the microbes with a thin
layer of compost. Compost is loaded with microbes and the compost helps boost the
existing microbe count already present in the soil. The next thing to do is start using
protein based fertilizers like corn meal, alfalfa meal, coffee grounds, soy meal, cottonseed
meal, sorghum meal, or what ever you can get inexpensively at your local feed supply
store.

The next thing is to start mulching your lawn clippings instead of bagging them. This
adds a considerable amount of organic fertilizer to your lawn for free.

Are organic fertilizers better than inorganic fertilizers?

Whether a fertilizer is organic or inorganic, after it's applied to the lawn, that fertilizer
must be converted into a form the grass can use. Whether it's converted by water or
microbes, the plant doesn't know the difference.

• One of the advantages associated with organic sources is the low chance of
burning grass.
• Some inorganic fast-release fertilizers have high salt levels that increase the
chances of burning the lawn.
• Most inorganic fertilizers are now time-released and less likely to burn grass.
• Organic fertilizers take longer for results to show up in the lawn.
• The percentage of nitrogen in organic sources is low, meaning it takes
considerable amount of material to be spread over the lawn to give the proper rate
of nitrogen.
Combining both is a good compromise
As already mentioned, to a lawn, it makes no difference where the nitrogen comes from.
By combining organic supplements in the form of mulched lawn clippings, adding
compost to the lawn occasionally and then reduce the amount of inorganic fertilizers
being applied (perhaps just one or two applications in the fall for cool season lawns, or
one or two in the spring for warm season grasses) and you should have a happy, healthy
lawn and soil.

Organic weed controls

CORN GLUTEN MEAL: At the top of the list is corn gluten meal. Corn gluten meal is
a byproduct of corn processing. It is used in cattle feed and dog food as a source of
protein. Not long ago it was discovered to prevent seed germination if applied at the right
time of the year with the right environmental factors. Read here for more in depth
information concerning corn gluten meal

BOILING WATER: Other organic weed control methods that have been sited include
pouring boiling water directly on a weed. This is a very dangerous method. Boiling water
can cause serious burns if you accidentally spill it on your skin. While the boiling water
will kill the top growth of many weeds, it does not control weeds with deep roots.

VINEGAR: Vinegar (acidic acid) is another chemical that can be used. Vinegar comes in
differing strength percentages. For effective weed control, household vinegar just isn't
strong enough as a reliable weed control. Household vinegars are in the 5% range, yet
studies show that 25% concentrations were required for effective weed controls.

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/weeds/vinegar/vinegar.htm
AGGRAND Natural Organic Fertilizer 4-3-3
http://www.usdaorganicfertilizer.com/natural_fertilizer_433.html

• Multi-purpose - produces excellent results on flowers, fruits,

vegetables, lawns, trees, and
crops.

• Effective as either a foliar feed or soil application.

• Demonstrated performance in the commercial fruit and vegetable

market.

• Enhances plant vigor which contributes to disease and stress

resistance.

• Convenient liquid concentrate

Available Sizes:
(1) 32-oz. bottle (singles)
(12) 32-oz.bottles (by the case)
(1) 2.5-gallon bottle (singles)
(2) 2.5-gallon bottles (twin-packs)
(1) 55-gallon drum

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer is a multi-purpose liquid product that is ideal for all-around
use on
flowers, vegetables, fruits, lawns, shrubs, trees and field crops. Now, with our new odor-
absorbing
ingredient, AGGRAND is perfect for houseplants as well!

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer provides nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) in a 4-

3-3 ratio.
These essential nutrients promote vigorous growth, increased root development and
improved
disease and stress tolerance.

With AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer, natural ingredients are released more slowly so there is
less
chance of environmental impact. Adding natural ingredients to the soil increases microbial
activity.
Soil microbes fix the nutrients needed for plant growth and release them slowly as plants
need
them. On the other hand petrochemical fertilizers are often high in soluble salts that are
detrimental
to soil microbes and plants alike: They decrease microbial activity and plant nutrient uptake.
Although these fertilizers are high analysis N-P-K, the plant-use efficiency is very low.

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer utilizes kelp concentrate from the icy waters of the North
Atlantic
Ocean. Kelp accumulates high levels of plant growth hormones and nutrients. When used as
a
fertilizer, kelp makes plants more robust and healthy by enhancing their heat, drought and
cold
tolerance. It also supplies N-P-K, sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe),
copper (Cu),
zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), boron (B), sodium (Na), carbohydrates and numerous amino
acids.

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer also utilizes hydrolyzed fish solubles extracted through low
temperature processes from Menhaden fish which were used by Native Americans for
centuries to
grow their crops. Menhaden comes from the word "munna whaleaug" which means "that
which
manures." Menhaden ocean fish feed on mineral rich plankton, which makes them full of
essential
nutrients. The fish are steamed slowly at 190° F, which preserves the amino acids, minerals
and
vitamins. The fish is then broken down into smaller components with enzymes (hydrolysis).
The fish
component in AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer supplies N-P-K and 10 micronutrients, as well
as a
number of vitamins and amino acids.

Bloodmeal and sulfate of potash are combined with the fish to boost the nutrient levels in
AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer. Together, the kelp, fish, bloodmeal and sulfate of potash
provide all
of the elements needed to grow healthy, vigorous plants. In addition to these ingredients, a
number
of other natural additives are included that condition the soil, reduce transplant shock and
chelate
the nutrients. Chelated nutrients are protected against leaching into the groundwater and are
readily available for plant uptake.

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer provides beautiful, healthy plants and super yields of high
quality,
nutritious vegetables, fruits and field crops.