Organic lawn management

Compost bin

Organic lawn managementororganic turf managementororganic land careororganic landscapingis the practice of establishing and caring for an athleticturf fieldorgardenlawnand landscape usingorganic horticulture,without the use of manufactured inputs such as syntheticpesticidesorartificial fertilizers.It is a component of organic land care and organicsustainable landscapingwhich adapt the principles and methods ofsustainable gardeningandorganic farmingto the care of lawns and gardens.

Techniques

Rechargeable electric mulching-mower

White clover lawn

A primary element of organic lawn management is the use ofcompostandcompost teato reduce the need for fertilization and to encourage healthy soil that enables turf to resist pests.A second element is mowing tall (3 "- 4" ) to suppress weeds and encourage deep grass roots,and leaving grass clippings and leaves on the lawn as fertilizer.

Additional techniques include fertilizing in the fall, not the spring.Organic lawns often benefit from over seeding, slice seeding and aeration more frequently due to the importance of a strong root system. Well-maintained organic lawns are often drought-tolerant. If a lawn does need watering it should be done infrequently but deeply.

Other organic techniques for caring for a lawn includeirrigationonly when the lawn shows signs of drought stress and then watering deeply - minimizing needless water consumption. Using low volumesprinklersprovides more penetration withoutrunoff.Lawnmowerswith amulchingfunction can useful in reducing fertilizer use by allowing grass clippings and leaves that are cut so minutely that they can settle into the grass inconspicuously todecomposeinto thesoil.

Clover lawns

Grass seed mixes used to contain white clover, which provides natural fertilizer, but this practice fell out of favor with the rise of synthetic fertilizer and businesses profiting from the sale of this fertilizer. In recent years, homeowners have returned to the use of clover as a natural fertilization source for lawns. In 2022, theNew York Timesreported on the growing popularity of clover lawns. TheNew York Timesreported "#cloverlawn has over 65 million views onTikTok."

Organic pesticides

Organic land managers may use registered pesticides approved under theNational Organic Programin their lawn care programs. These pesticides are generally derived from natural materials and are minimally-processed. Alternatives include the use ofbeneficial insectsand natural predators such asnematodesto prevent infestation of lawns with pests such ascrane flylarvae andants.Pesticides are allowed under the NOFA Standards for organic land carebut not always used in organic lawn care because proper cultural practices can keep pest populations below action thresholds, such as preventing fungal infections using physical maintenance techniques such as effective mowing and raking.

Organic fertilizers

Synthetic (inorganic based)fertilizersare made in chemical processes, some of which use fossil fuels and contribute to global warming. They also greatly increase the amount of nitrogen entering the global nitrogen cycle which has a serious negative impact on the organization and functioning of the world's ecosystems, including accelerating the loss of biological diversity and decline of coastal marine ecosystems and fisheries.Nitrogen fertilizer releases N₂O, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere after application.Organic fertilizer nitrogen content is typically lower than synthetic fertilizer.

Biodiversity

Organic lawns contribute tobiodiversity,by definition, when they contain more than one or two grass species. Examples of additional lawn and grasslike species that can be encouraged in organic lawns include dozens of grass species (eight for ryegrass alone,sedges,mosses, clover, vetches, trefoils, yarrow,ground cover alternatives,and other mowable plants).Biodiversity increases the functioning and stress tolerance of ecosystems.Lack of biodiversity is a significant environmental issue brought up by the use of lawns with grassroots groups emerging to promote this method of lawn care.Certain low-growing grass species can also eliminate the need for mowing, thus also being environmentally friendly.Cloveris often mixed with grasses for its ability to fix nitrogen into the soil and fertilize the lawn.

No Mow May

No Mow May is a campaign to encourage homeowners to not mow their lawns during the month of May to supportpollinators,native plantsand wildlife diversity.The campaign was started in 2019 byPlantlife,a nature conservation charity based in the United Kingdom. In 2020, the city ofAppleton, Wisconsinstopped mowing for the month of May. In 2022, cities around the United States participated in No Mow May. The campaign is supported by theXerces Societythrough its Bee City USA program, and has described the movement as a "gateway" to creating better habitat for bees when adapted to local conditions and including native wildflowers.

Locations with organic lawns

Many small properties with lawns around the world are maintained using organic techniques. In the late 20th century, a movement to manage lawns organically began to grow.Some large properties and municipalities require organic lawn management and organic landscaping. They include the following locations:

Ryton Organic Gardens, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England

A view of Painshill Park over the lake towards the vineyard.

In 1985, the nonprofitGarden Organic,formerly known as the Henry Doubleday Research Association, relocated to its present site where it operates organic, landscaped grounds open to the public. The property is owned byCoventry University.

Highgrove House estate, Gloucestershire, England

In 1996,King Charles III,then the Prince of Wales, had transitioned theHighgrove Houseestate's farm and gardens to organic management.

Painshill, Cobham, Surrey, England

In 1998,Painshillwas awarded theEuropa Nostra Medalfor its restoration of the 18th century organic gardens originally designed byCharles Hamiltonbetween 1738 and 1773 using what today are called organic methods.

Common Ground Education Center, Unity, Maine, United States

In 1998, theMaine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Associationacquired the 300 acre property inUnity, Maine,and converted the land to organic demonstration fields, gardens, orchards, shade trees and low-impact forestry woodlots. It is the site of the annualCommon Ground Country Fair,a fair showcasing organic food and farming.

Vineyard Golf Club, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States

In 2002, theVineyard Golf Clubopened on Martha's Vineyard with the requirement that it use organic turf management. The first course superintendent, Jeff Carlson, was the recipient of the 2003 GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Award and is the 2008 winner of the President's Award forEnvironmental Stewardship.

Harvard University, Massachusetts, United States

Harvard Yard in autumn

In 2009, theNew York Timesreported onHarvard University's decision to use organic management on all their grounds, which was championed by PresidentDrew Gilpin Faustand implemented by landscape director Wayne Carbone. The New York Times noted: "Thanks to these efforts, the university has reduced the use of irrigation by 30 percent, according to Mr. Carbone, thus saving two million gallons of water a year. And the 40-year-old orchards at Elmwood, which have been treated with compost tea, are recovering from leaf spot and apple scab, two ailments that had afflicted them."

High Line, Manhattan, New York, United States

High Line, New York City

In 2009, the first section of the organically-managed 1.45 mile linear park theHigh Lineopened on the formerNew York Central Railroad,an elevated train line spur, on thewest sideofManhattanin New York City. The High Line's design is a collaboration betweenJames Corner Field Operations,Diller Scofidio + Renfro,andPiet Oudolf.

Takoma Park, Maryland, United States

Residents Catherine Cummings and Julie Taddeo began a campaign in 2011 to restrict lawncare pesticide use inTakoma Park,Maryland.City council members Seth Grimes and Tim Male quickly got behind the effort and drafted Takoma Park's Safe Grow Act of 2013, leading to the city council's enactment of the law,which went into effect March 1, 2014.

Ogunquit, Maine, United States

In 2014, Bill and Judy Baker and other residents convinced theOgunquitTown Council to pass a strict pesticide ban requiring organic land care on both public and private property.

Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Deering Oaks in Portland, Maine

In 2015, Julie Taddeo and Catherine Cummings and Safe Grow Montgomery colleagues campaigned to getMontgomery County,Marylandto adopt a pesticide ban that required organic lawn management throughout the county on both public and private property. Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal (D-at-large) wrote and introduced Bill 52-14,based on Takoma Park's 2013 legislation. The county council enacted Bill 52-14 that October.The ban was challenged in court by local lawn care companies and pesticide industry lobbying group Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE). In 2017, the ban was overturned by a Circuit Court, and the ruling was appealed. In 2019, a Maryland appeals court upheld the ban.

Gardens of the Vatican

Irvine, California, United States

In 2016,Non Toxic Irvinea group led by citizens Laurie Thompson, Ayn Craciun, Kathleen Hallal, Kim Konte and Bob Johnson with help from City Councilor Christina Shea convinced the City Council to adopt an organic integrated pest management program requiring organic land care on all city property.

Carlsbad, California, United States

In 2017, Non ToxicCarlsbadcampaigned to get the city to adopt an ordinance requiring organic land care on all city property.

Portland, Maine, United States

In 2018, Portland Protectors led byAvery Yale Kamilaand Maggie Knowles convinced thePortlandCity Councilto adopt an organic ordinance requiring organic land care on all public and private property.

Dover, New Hampshire, United States

In 2018, the Dover City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for a "Commitment to Organic Land Management Practices" brought to the Council by resident groupNon Toxic Dover, NHand sponsored by Councilor Dennis Shanahan. The City began an all-organic turf program for City property in 2020.

Gardens of Vatican City, Rome, Italy

In 2019, Rafael Tornini, head of the Garden and Environment Service of theVatican,announced the 37 acreGardens of Vatican Cityhad been transitioning to organic management since 2017.

Delta Dental Stadium, home of the Fisher Cats, is the first professional baseball field to use organic management.

Delta Dental Stadium, Manchester, New Hampshire, United States

In 2019, theNew Hampshire Fisher Catsbegan the transition to makeDelta Dental Stadiumthe first professional baseball field that is organically managed.Stonyfield,as part of its #playfree campaign to convert recreational spaces to organic management, supported the field's transition.

New York City public lands, United States

In 2021, the New York City Council banned the use of synthetic pesticides by city agencies. The effort was started by teacher Paula Rogovin's kindergarten class at P.S. 290.

Maui, Hawaii, United States

In 2021, the island ofMauibanned synthetic pesticides and fertilizers from all county lands. Community organizers including Autumn Ness, director of Beyond Pesticides' Hawai'i Organic Land Management Program worked to enact the law.

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

In 2022, a synthetic pesticide ban on public and private property passed by theBaltimore City Councilin 2020 went into effect. It includes a fine of up to $250 for violators.

Books

• "NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care 6th Edition Practices for the Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes,"Michael Almstead, Dr. Jamie Banks, et al., contributors. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, Inc. 2017.
• "The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn," by Paul Tukey.Storey Publishing,LLC. 2007.,

See also

• Organic horticulture
• Lawn
• Grasscycling
• Organic farming
• Organic movement
• Natural landscaping