Most homeowners, especially those with pets and kids, are worried about the safety of the products they use on their lawns. Chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides might make your lawn more attractive, but they have negative effects on your family's health and the environment at large. Because of the hazards from commercial lawn care products, most gardeners turn to organic methods. You too can implement organic lawn maintenance in your own home.

Instead of choosing chemical fertilizers, try to purchase slow-release organic fertilizers. They provide nutrients to your grasses without the harmful effects of artificial fertilizers. Another advantage of using an organic fertilizer is that they lessen your need to use pesticides. Their positive effects on your lawn are also more long lasting than conventional fertilizers. Also, when cutting your grass, leave some of the clippings behind. These clippings also serve as natural fertilizers for your lawn.

Another important aspect of organic lawn care is proper watering. It's best to water your lawn early in the morning to encourage the right amount of evaporation. Otherwise, your damp lawn will be more prone to fungal infestations. Roughly, your lawn should have around an inch of water per day to ensure that sufficient water gets to the roots.

Organic lawn care doesn't mean that you abandon the idea of pest control. There are safer alternatives to commercially produced pesticides that can help your lawn grow without the interference of garden pests. You can dilute natural dishwashing soap in water and spray it on your plants. This will prevent most pests from growing on your lawn. As for lawn fungus, a mixture of 3 tablespoons of vinegar with water can perform as well as commercial anti-fungal chemicals.

To support your lawn's general health, you can apply compost once or twice a year. Cow, sheep, or chicken manure are adequate substitutes for compost. Adding liquid seaweed to your lawn can also promote the health of your grass, as well as prevent fungal infestations. You can apply the liquid seaweed to your lawn once a month.

While it's good to have a healthy-looking lawn, it shouldn't cost you your safety or your health. Organic lawn maintenance is a good alternative to commercial lawn treatments - and it's less expensive too.