Tips for a Organic Lawn

[OscarKane]

Follow this step-by-step plan to get the best-looking, healthiest lawn you’ve ever had.
1. Thicken Your Lawn
2. Feed With Compost
3. Water Wisely
4. Cut High
5. Leave The Clippings

These steps are simple, and they demand (over time) less work than conventional lawn care.

[LoneRanger]

Thank you. May the web-rating gods look upon you with love and happiness.

[TimmyG]

This again? Step #1 is a bit ambiguous. Do I use corn starch for that?

[dfw_pilot]

Sorry in advance if this is considered flame-bait, but where do the organic people stand on Milo?

[LoneRanger]

Poo is poo in my book.

[Overfloater]

I love the Milo. Apply tons of it! Not literally.

[ Post made via Android ]

[HoosierLawnGnome]

Thank you. May the web-rating gods look upon you with love and happiness.

[ Post made via Android ]

[bernstem]

Milorganite is not organic certified so it is technically not organic. If you are a purist, you would not use it. Whether it would pass certification if they were to seek it, I don't know.

[Michael Wise]

Or you could just #4 a lot...man...

[TimmyG]

Milorganite is not organic certified so it is technically not organic. If you are a purist, you would not use it. Whether it would pass certification if they were to seek it, I don't know.

Technically, organic just means that it contains carbon and came from once-living organisms. So if you're a purist, as far as science goes, then Milorganite makes the cut.

But, true, Milorganite is not "certified" organic, a much stricter standard that goes way beyond the scientific definition of being organic. Personally, I couldn't care less about OMRI standards; I choose organic fertilizers such as biosolids and grains for their performance.

[bernstem]

You are correct that it is probably organic by the technical definition. I generally use the OMRI definition (and try to clarify what I mean), though, when people ask if something is organic in this forum as I think it is most likely to be what they are referencing.

[TimmyG]

I was just poking the bear. It's good to rehash the distinction every now and then. Are feed store grains OMRI certified? Not usually. Both of our points (in this otherwise ridiculous thread) seem to be that everyone draws a line as to what they consider organic. And when discussing organic options, it helps to be clear where that line is.

Kudos to those that try to adhere to OMRI certification for their lawn products. But with nearly 3/4 acres of lawn to maintain, even I'm not that insane.

[Tony alony]

I was just poking the bear. It's good to rehash the distinction every now and then. Are feed store grains OMRI certified? Not usually. Both of our points (in this otherwise ridiculous thread) seem to be that everyone draws a line as to what they consider organic. And when discussing organic options, it helps to be clear where that line is.

Kudos to those that try to adhere to OMRI certification for their lawn products. But with nearly 3/4 acres of lawn to maintain, even I'm not that insane.

+ 1 TimmyG.
Anyone would have to be insane to poke through a 260 page list of OMRI products, looking for; something to put on their lawn.
http://www.omri.org/sites/default/files ... ompany.pdf

[Tony alony]

Here's a short list__ 64 pages of real OMRI lawn amendments. https://www.omri.org/sites/default/file ... tegory.pdf

[TimmyG]

Finding an OMRI product for any particular need isn't so much the challenge as it is affording one. Nitrogen fertilizer in particular. Try to find an OMRI product that comes anywhere near the cost of biosolids (Milorganite, Bay State, etc.) or grains.

For those that want their fast-acting lime to be certified organic, apparently Solu-Cal Enhanced Calcitic Lime is an OMRI product. This is one case where OMRI doesn't come at a cost premium.

[bernstem]

The cheapest I ever found OMRI certified fert was ~4x as much as for Milorganite. For some people it really matters. I feel similar to TimmyG that the cost is high for what you get and that biosolids and grains are "organic" enough for me.

[oze]

Or you could just #4 a lot...man...

I never cut high anymore. The crooked stripes are embarrassing.