How to Maintain a Lawn Organically

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows an environmentally safe way to grow a greener, healthier lawn.

Skill

Easyrequires lots of walking back
and forth across the lawn, but
no part is particularly strenuous

Cost

$140 to $180

Estimated Time

4 to 6 hours for average-size lawn

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows an environmentally safe way to grow and maintain a greener, healthier lawn

Steps for Growing an Organic Lawn

Start by mowing the lawn very short.
Next, use a gas-powered aerator to punch air holes into the lawn.
Use a shovel to broadcast ½ to 1 inch of compost over the lawn.
Rake the compost into lawn using a garden rake.
Check the health of the soil with a test kit; for acidic soil, add pelletized limestone with a broadcast spreader.
Add chicken-manure fertilizer to the lawn with broadcast spreader.
Spread grass seed over the lawn using broadcast spreader.
Use the back of a leaf rake to work the grass seed into the lawn.
Lightly water the lawn two or three times per day.
Once grass germinates, return to normal watering: irrigate the lawn with 1 inch of water per week.

Tools: