What are some of the more natural ways to fertilize your lawn and to keep pests at bay than using commercial..

Question

..products?

In a response to one of my questions ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060703233434AA0JzZ5 ), woodenwater1959 gave the following excellent response, "On the other side, I am against applying commercial fertilizer and pesticides to lawns. People tend to over fertilize and over-water their lawns and the excess nutrients end up running off into sorm drains and streams. There are more natural ways to fertilize your lawn and to keep pests at bay."

What are some of the more natural ways you have seen or used ?
I would like to try some of the suggestions.

Answer 1

Always such good questions! But this time I feel comfortable giving a few suggestions....

Simple steps to a healthy lawn

A healthy lawn and garden is the best way to combat weeds, diseases and pests in your yard. Relying too much on fertilizers and pesticides may be a symptom of an underlying problem in your lawn and garden and can make problems worse.

Fertilizers with high levels of quick-release phosphorus and nitrogen can pollute storm drains, streams, rivers and other waterways. This impacts the health and habitat of water-dwelling creatures like fish and amphibians.

Pesticides - insecticides, herbicides and fungicides - are used to control weeds, diseases, insects and other pests such as slugs. These chemicals are toxic and can pose a threat to people and pets if overused or carelessly applied. They also can kill beneficial insects, earthworms, birds and other organisms, disrupting the ecological balance of your lawn and garden.

If you want ALL the text for the following steps, please click on the 1st link below...(and there's a lot to read.)

1. Apply compost
2. Grasscycle
3. Use organic or slow-release fertilizer
4. Skip the weed and feed
5. Aerate and over seed with appropriate grass varieties
6. Water deeply but infrequently
7. Know when to water
8. Have less lawn

Lawns require a lot of fertilizer and water, and large lawns limit plant diversity. Overall, less lawn can mean less work!

Which brings me to PLAN B....
Have no idea where you live, so you'll have to do some research yourself, but turning as much of your lawn into a garden is something that is always an option.

Albeit for flowers or vegetables. It could take years to get this task completed, but that's what makes it so interesting. Finding the perennials that do will in your corner of the world--ultimately you want the garden to be 75% perennials, 25% annuals (for color).
The garden will need materials that you will be composting, etc. You have to take into consideration sun/ sun-shade mix or shade when picking your plants, water needs, etc.

Gardening can be so rewarding. (I can't say fun--it's work--even if it's for a few minutes every day pulling up that stray weed.)

Hint--shady areas--think HOSTA...over 3,000 varieties of all sizes and colors. And wood chips around borders, etc to retain the water and keep down the weeds.

Just a thought!

Answer 2

basil makes a good fly repellant... plant some around the edges of your lawn... by "some" I mean a decent amount because a little basil won't do much... I keep a planter of basil sitting in my open window to keep bugs out...

also, bats are one of the BEST predators of bugs to have around... they don't harm humans at all (contrary to many of the best vampire stories you hear) and you won't see them during the day, but one bat colony can effectively wipe out your bug problem NIGHTLY.... it's amazing.... I would suggest putting up a bat house in your yard.... see (source) for one example of a good bat house (though there are many models you could buy or even build one yourself! Do some research to see which kinds of bats are in your area and make sure not to disturb the bat roost too much or you can unknowingly harm the bats health....

Answer 3

you could try to use nature against the pests ex: a blow-up owl to frighten birds and check out what helpful insects there are to eat bad ones. i know i have heard of people doing that to control aphids, can't remember what bug they used to eat them tho... a farm supply or nursury should be able to help

Answer 4

I use compost tea brewed from commercial composted steer manure. It provides a nutrient and micro-organism rich liquid fertilizer and because it's brewed from composted manure it just smells like good rich soil.. I also pull my weeds and compost them rather than using herbicide.

Answer 5

Clove of garlic pushed into the ground keeps insects from nibbling at your plants.

Answer 6

I use egg shells to make my tomato plants grow