Once only used by a select few environmentally-conscious homeowners, organic lawn care is becoming mainstream. Organic signs are popping up on peopleâs lawns all over Central Ohio. Even name brand fertilizer companies are embracing the trend. [caption id="attachment_71991" align="alignright" width="296"] Mike and Rachel Hannon enjoy their organic lawn with sons Jack and Mick[/caption] Jack and Mick Hannon, who are eight and ten, play tag with their mother Rachel on the front lawn of their home in Dublin. The boys enjoy all sorts of sports on the lush green carpet shaded by a giant 30-year-old Maple. âFootball, baseball, soccer, sword fighting, just hanging out in the yard,â? says Rachel Hannon. What does organic really mean? The yard is chemical-free. About five years ago the Hannons went organic. They switched from a service that treated their lawn with chemicals to one that uses organic products. âI was a little nervous at first because I didnât know how it was going to kill the weeds. But we have had no problems because it works by improving the soil; improving the microbes; and makes the turf very strong and we are very happy with the results,â? Hannon says. Instead of chemicals, organic lawn services use things like corn gluten meal, molasses, sea weed, kelp and compost. âI was a doubter at first and I am not a doubter anymore. It really does work and I feel really good about the decision we made,â? Hannon says. Treating turf to produce a luxurious lawn got into full swing in the years following World War II. Lawns require treatment says Ohio State University turf expert Joe Rimelspach because during a homeâs construction the surrounding topsoil is usually stripped away. âIf we had topsoil we would have to do very little. Itâs this lack of a decent soil for the roots to grow to provide the nutrients for the plant to have a nice lawn,â? Rimelspach says. Old research still used today Scientists found ways to nourish turf and eliminate weeds decades ago using chemicals. But many hurt the environment. They were later pulled from the market but their effects left lasting impressions. Mark Slavens is environmental affairs director for Scotts Miracle Gro in Marysville. âThereâs a lot of people unsure or unclear about how things work. And they believe that if they do things in an organic or natural way thatâs going to be better for their health or better for the environment. And thereâs some validity to that thinking,â? Slavens says. So Scotts, a giant in the lawn and garden industry, and other fertilizer companies have added organic products because of consumer demand. Scotts says itâs seeing slower-than-expected growth in its organic line of products but sales are steadily moving upward. Organic lawn care services are also seeing an increase in customers. Matt Cellura manages Good Nature Organic Lawn Care in Columbus. âThereâs not a lot of 100 percent certainty that, âHey, this caused that.â But I guess thereâs the peace of mind part of it. Why mess around with it when you can put something down on the property and not really have to worry about it if your kids run out there or your dog right after a treatment,â? Cellura says. Tradeoffs There are tradeoffs taking the organic route. Organic pesticides donât work as well as chemical ones. And while organic fertilizers can provide excellent results they usually take longer to work. But theyâre great, says OSUâs Rimelspach, at building up the soil. âThe best defense against weeds is to have a thick, dense stand of turf. If you have a dense stand of turf you donât have room for the weeds. You donât have a problem,â? Rimelspach says. Organic products are more expensive says Rimelspach. And because theyâre less nutrient-dense it takes more of the organic product to cover the same area. But Rachel Hannon says her family is only paying a few dollars more for Good Natureâs organic lawn service. âIt costs us on average about $8 a month more than when we were using a chemical lawn service care,â? Hannon says. So as more and more organic signs are popping up on Ohio lawns, industry leader Scotts continues to research and develop more organic products. Scotts vice president Mark Slavens. âThese products work and they deliver results that people want,â? Slavens says. Slavens says Scotts is close to developing organics that sell at the same price as their chemical counterparts.
Organic Lawn Care A Growing Trend In Central Ohio
