Well just because it is winter doesn’t mean we cannot dream for the spring. Here is a great article from our friend Ken LaVoie (www.lawnguru.net). Post your comments folks I would love to hear them.

Organic Lawn Program
Ken LaVoie – LawnGuru.net

The easiest way to explain organic lawn care, as it differs from traditional “chemical” lawn care, is that organics addresses the SOIL, whereas chemical addresses the PLANT. Starting in 2008, I gave my clients a choice of our “outsourced” chemical lawn treatment OR our self applicated, organic program. Our organic program consisted of aeration and ph enhancement first, then and organic fertilizer if warranted.

My research leads me to believe that aeration and ph adjustment will give you the biggest “bang for the buck,” dollar for dollar. If the soil ph is too low or high, the grass will not be able to “unlock” certain nutrients from the soil anyway, so much of your fertilizer application will go unused. Secondly, aeration allows air and oxygen to get into the soil, which promotes bacteria and nematode growth, which is what organics is really all about. Several of my clients received nothing but aeration and lime this year, and their lawns improved remarkably.

Our next step is to begin offering a “one time” application of compost or compost tea, which will add actual organic matter to the soil. Once the soil health becomes optimal, the lawn should become nearly self-sustaining; in other words, NO applications will be needed other than the occasional corrective liming, aeration, or addition of organic matter. This is literally all a lawn EVER needs once it gets used to “non” chemical life.

There has been quite a bit of news about corn gluten meal, or CGM. It is purported to have weed suppression properties if you put enough down, and your timing is right. There’s also growing evidence that much of the weed-prevention benefit comes from the thickening of the grass, which comes from organic production of nitrogen. All in all, I’d say it’s a an expensive route, and if you use it, it’s probably a good idea to alert your clients that the weed preventative control will be an added “surprise.”

Regardless of your approach, communication is key. Alert your clients that if their lawns are “used” to chemical lawn treatment, it will take 2 seasons to adjust the kinder, gentler organic approach, but the wait will be worth it, for the lawn and the environment.

As for pricing, for dry chemical spreading (like weed n’ feed), I charge $60 per 10,000 square feet with a $35 minimum. For lime, I simply double my cost—if I pay $4.50 per bag for pelletized lime, I charge $9 per bag with the same $35 minimum. So far, I’m finding that I make great money with aeration by simply charging my dry chemical price. I earn $100 per man-hour and I have time to aerate twice over each lawn. I use a tow-behind model that I paid $650 for, and so far it’s holding up nicely.

Ken LaVoie has 20 years of lawn and landscape experience. He attended both the University of Maine as well as Rhode Island College and resides in Winslow, Maine where he is a freelance writer as well as owner of both LaVoie’s Landscape Mgmt. Inc. and Central Maine Web. Please see www.LawnGuru.net and www.CentralMaineWeb.com for more information.

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