More and more people are opting to use environmentally-friendly products in their gardens these days in the quest to protect our planet, our children and our four-legged friends.
Eco-friendly alternative lawn care products do not contain harsh chemicals, unlike many traditional chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides which can poison our lawns and even affect the health of our families.
Children and pets are especially at risk from some chemicals which have been used in the garden for decades and we are now wisely taking extra care to create a safer outdoor environment.
Research has shown how the chemicals in some lawn care products can alter the components of the soil and pollute the ground water - therefore making the switch to alternative products a prudent decision.
There are many alternative products being sold in the market today. However, only some of them are 100% organic so you should take your time to make the right choice when buying them - look for a seal on the packaging of the product to confirm it is fully organic.
If your grass is well suited to the climate in your part of the country, you may not really need to apply any kind of fertiliser or herbicides at all.
However, if you do need to make a purchase, there's plenty of choice when it comes to buying environmentally-friendly organic fertiliser to feed your grass and keep your lawn in great condition.
These include sustainable and renewable resources such as blood, fish and bone fertiliser, seaweed fertiliser in liquid or solid form, fish emulsion and chicken manure. These won't leach into your ground water and will improve the fertility and health of your lawn soil.
Organic lawn feed and improver, from companies such as Neuforff, is also a popular choice among environmentally conscientious gardeners. This features a superb mix of naturally-occurring mycorrhiza fungi and micro-organisms to revitalise your soil.
There are many great reasons to tend your lawn with eco-friendly products - these include the fact they can significantly improve soil quality and increase its ability to retain its nutrients and water. They will also reduce pests by effectively restoring a proper balance to your garden lawn's ecosystem.
Eco products will ultimately create a healthier and stronger lawn which means you will need to mow, water and fertilize it less frequently. You will also need to get your trusty lawn roller out less often.
Organic products build up the life in soil biology and the desirable results are long-lasting. This is far more appealing than the quick-fix approach of nasty chemical products which need to be re-applied frequently to get your lawn looking the way you want it.
Lawn weeds can also be brought under control with natural products - for example, you can kill off weeds and corn gluten can do the same thing, as well as preventing weed seed from germinating.
Some types of traditional herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers have the potential to make our pets ill when applied to our lawns.
Studies have shown that many pets, especially dogs, have the tendency to nibble on grass and accidentally ingest harmful chemicals present in it.
To prevent accidental ingestion of harmful chemicals, you should only use pet friendly lawn care products - just look for products that are certified by veterinarians as being safe for pets. There are plenty of options available including Westland SafeLawn Child and Pet Friendly Natural Lawn Feed.
Organic products are a lot safer compared to those products that are laden with harmful chemicals. Manure from cows, chickens, bats and sea birds are often used in these pet-friendly lawn care products and their bio-degradable composition means they have real environmentally-friendly appeal.
It's also possible to make your own pet-friendly lawn care products at home. Organic fertiliser can be made from a range of waste products from your kitchen such as left over foodstuffs and fruit peelings, which can be turned into compost. Composting is the natural process of decomposing biodegradable materials and turning these materials into organic rich soil.
The process is very simple - all you need to do is to store the waste materials in a compost bin or other suitable container and allow them to rot with the aid naturally occurring bacteria.
The time needed to completely break down biodegradable materials varies depending on the type of materials used in composting. Once the material has completely decomposed it can be applied to your soil as fertiliser.
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