Repairing a Worn Out Lawn

Has your lawn been treated with chemical fertilizers for years? Does your soil seem dusty and lifeless? If so, your lawn has probably been stripped of the necessary elements it needs to be beautiful again. But don't worry, we have a 4 step plan to get your lawn back in shape!

For a lawn that has seen better days, we recommend an intense aeration be done before proceeding with an organic program. Then applying a liquid and dry organic fertilizers. We also recommend following it up with an 1/2" organic compost topdressing and additional grass seed if necessary. Then a consistent organic lawn care routine will continue to naturally correct the soil's imbalance, giving you a more lush and greener lawn!

Step 1 - Aeration

Oxygen is one of the most important components to healthy soil and vital to a plant's success. Earthworms and organic matter help to create more oxygen in the soil, but most unhealthy yards are lack both of these to begin with.

The quickest way to get oxygen in your soil is by aerating, the process of punching holes in the ground. This helps reduce soil compaction and will allow nutrients from organic fertilizers to better penetrate the ground. This is the first step towards correcting your soil and having a beautiful lawn!

Step 2 - Liquid Organic Fertilizer

A lawn that has been ravaged by chemicals is lacking all of the microorganisms that make up healthy soil. In order to bring the soil back to life you need to apply a liquid organic fertilizer.

We use a blend of compost tea, liquid seaweed and molasses. It is the same blend we use in our foliar feed. Because it contains actual living organisms, it will help to create microbial activity and start repairing your soil instantly!

Step 3 - Dry Organic Fertilizer

We double the nutrient boost by applying a dry, slow-release fertilizer on your lawn, which will add essential nutrients that your lawn needs in order to thrive.

Our dry organic fertilizer contains alfalfa, slow release organic nitrogen, rich in Triacontanol and has a natural growth stimulant formulated with seaweed, humates and molasses. Dry organic fertilizers should be applied at 20 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.

Step 4 - Organic Compost Topdressing

The final step is to apply a 1/2" organic compost topdressing to your lawn.

Compost is a living fertilizer and the key to any organic program. One of natures best made substances, compost is high in nutrients, humus and microorganisms. The best time to apply a compost topdressing is Fall or Spring.

Contact us to get started!

 

Compost Topdressing

Applying a compost topdressing can be one of the most beneficial things for your lawn. It acts as a fertilizer and weed control. In our topdressing we use 100% organic compost. Compost is a living fertilizer and the key to any organic program. One of natures best made substances, compost is high in nutrients, humus and microorganisms.

Compost can be used safely on all plants and lawns without worrying about burning or harmful chemicals being present. The benefits of compost to your soil, lawn and plants is tremendous and will yield greater long term results than any chemical. Plus you and your family can enjoy your lawn without having to worry about the negative effects of chemical fertilizers! See a price list for compost topdressing application.

How does it work?

The compost protects the roots from the cold weather and nourish's the soil, which causes the grass to stay greener in the fall and come out earlier in the spring. Most lawns are thicker and free of weeds, diseases and pests. With just one treatment a year you will be able to fertilize less, or not have to at all. The addition of compost to your soil will also improve water retention, so you can water less!

When should it be applied?

For maximum results you should add a 1/2" compost topdressing to your lawn in the late fall or early winter once the grass has stopped growing.

Application Instructions

The topdressing can be applied in Spring, Fall or Winter, but it is most effective when applied after the cool weather has stopped the grass from growing. 

A 1/2" layer is recommended, but anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2" is beneficial. 1 cubic yard of compost will cover 650 square feet at 1/2". 

The best way to spread the compost is to use a wheelbarrow to put small equidistant piles throughout the area and then to spread them evenly with a rake. It is important to water thoroughly after spreading so no nutrients are lost and it doesn’t smother the grass.

Contact Us to get a Organic Compost Topdressing Application TODAY!

Easy Ways to Go GREEN!

Having Earth friendly lawn care is more attainable than you might think! These tips will not only enhance your yard’s appearance, but will keep your family and pets happy and safe as well! Just start by practicing these easy green methods.

• Use organic fertilizers and pest control. This will give you healthier soil which will grow healthier plants and grass.

• Set your mower to mulch your grass clippings instead of bagging them.

• Get your sprinklers in check by setting watering times at night and watering longer and less often.

• Don’t scalp your grass, this is harmful to the health of the grass and can allow weeds to take over!

• Buy low emission or electric lawn equipment. Or better yet, switch out your mower for a non-powered reel mower, it’s great exercise & quiet too!

• Use trees, shrubs and flowers that are native or well adapted to our region. They will be ready for the hot Texas sun!

 

See a Price List for our Organic Fertilization Services!

 

The Real Cost of Chemicals

We all know how much a bag of weed and feed cost at the local store, but do you know the real cost of putting chemicals on your lawn? It may be a bigger price that you realize...

The Facts

Aside from damaging the ecosystem, chemical fertilizers can cause groundwater pollution. Oftentimes, they are highly acidic, thus resulting in high acidic levels in the soil that stunt plant growth and kill microorganisms that help supply nitrogen to plants.

Chemical fertilizers are typically more expensive than their organic counterparts, and they can eventually lead to a chemical imbalance in plants, particularly an excess of nitrogen.

Environmental Hazards

Chemical fertilizers create high levels of nitrates, which are carcinogenic and often show up in our water supply. Plants aren't able to use such large quantities of nitrogen, and synthetic high nitrogen fertilizers are often overused, causing the excess to be leached or washed away into our local rivers and lakes. Contributing to the worsening of our drinking water quality.

If you are an avid gardener, keep in mind that using chemical fertilizers on your fruits, vegetables and herbs can not only be harmful to digest, but the foods lack the nutrients due to the poor quality of the soil it is grown in.

Is your family safe?

With the organic mind set on the rise, more and more people are acknowledging the harmful effects of synthetic fertilizers. Some chemical fertilizers and weed prevention have even been linked to increasing rates of cancer in people and animals. There is a reason that you are told to keep pets and children off the lawn after it has been treated by a professional lawn applicator. Even after those weed and feed products dry, they still get tracked into your home on your shoes and pets feet, and if your children play on the floor, they are coming into direct contact with those substances.

So why put toxic chemicals on your lawn when there is a better, natural way? The good news is, you don't have to anymore! You can easily apply all natural fertilizers yourself, just as you would a chemical one. Or you can sign up for any of our organic fertilization and weed control services for a safe and healthy lawn!

Start Protecting Your Family Today! Sign Up and Join the Organic Way!

Plant a Tree Program

As an environmentally conscious company, we try to make the world a greener place one lawn at a time. We've recently decided to broaden our impact by donating a portion of our proceeds to American Forest's tree planting program.

For every $1 we donate, they will plant one native tree in rural and urban ecosystem restoration projects across the United States and around the world. The campaign plants trees where they are desperately needed, such as along hillsides to reduce erosion and streams to prevent polluted runoff and sedimentation as well as other ecologically significant areas.

American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration, and we couldn't be happier to contribute to their efforts.

So every time you use MONSTER Landscapes you're planting trees where they're desperately needed, just like that!

To make a donation or to read more about American Forests, click their logo below to visit their website.

 

Fertilizing and Lawn Care

Organic Fertilizing and Weed Control

By using organic or natural fertilizers and weed control, you will not only be feeding the plants and grass, but adding nutrients to your soil. The healthier your plants are, the more resistant to disease and pests they will be. The healthier your soil is, the better your grass will grow, which will leave less room for weed seeds to germinate.

Most weeds, although not appealing, are nature’s way of bringing needed nutrients back to the soil. Make to cover bare soil with mulch, as weeds grow easily in uncovered areas.

• Applying chemical fertilizers will only benefit your lawn for a short period of time. Once the chemicals wash away, the soil is left without nutrients and nature’s weeds will try to correct it!

• Natural and organic fertilizers don’t have to be applied as often because they slowly release nutrients as needed, giving you a healthy lawn.

• To prevent plants from yellowing during hot summers, spray them with a liquid fertilizer that will give a good foliar feeding and help them to grow healthier roots.  Garret Juice is a terrific one and can be purchased at local stores, or make your own blend with the recipe at www.dirtdoctor.com.

• By avoiding chemicals, your lawn will be a safe place for your family and pets! Mow your yard consistently each week or every other week during growing season. This will prevent the weeds from growing flowers and spreading more seeds.

Lawn Care - The Earth friendly way!

Keeping your yard properly maintained will not only keep it beautiful, but will keep the yard work quick and easy!

•  It’s good to keep shrubs trimmed back about 12” away from all areas of your house.

•  For low spots in your yard, fill in with topsoil or sand. The grass will fill itself in and you’ll have a level yard.

•  For larger trees, prune branches to 6 feet above ground. This will provide adequate walking clearance for you and your guests.

• Check your irrigation system monthly for leaks or broken heads. This will help prevent any loss of plants and save on your water bill!

•  Get the most out of your manual sprinklers, and get a faucet timer so you don’t have to worry about remembering!

•  Pull weeds after a good rain or the sprinkler has run. The loose soil will make weed pulling a cinch!

•  Grass should be mowed to 2 1/2 inches or higher. Make sure you don’t let it grow too long, cutting off too much of the blade at one time can take a toll on the grass.

•  Mulch those clippings! They will prevent weeds from growing and add nutrients back into the soil!

Mulch the Lawn?

While the concept may sound odd, mulching your lawn is the best thing you can do for it.  There are many different ways to mulch your lawn and all are beneficial to soil health.  Just choosing to mulch the lawn clippings and leaves in the fall are two simple ways to help your lawn all year long.

For maximum results you can add a compost topdressing to your lawn in the late fall or early winter once the grass has stopped growing.  It will protect the roots from the cold weather and nourish the soil, which causes the grass to stay greener in the fall and come out earlier in the spring.  Most lawns are thicker and free of weeds, diseases and pests. With just one treatment a year you will be able to fertilize less, or not have to at all.  The addition of compost to your soil will also improve water retention,  so you can water less!

More Information on Compost Topdressing

See a Price List for our Organic Fertilization Services!

Why should you switch to Organic?

Unfortunately we have all been trained to think that the constant application of chemical fertilizers 8 times a year is good for our lawn, and is "necessary" in order to get the results that we desire out of our turf. Here at MONSTER Landscapes we know this couldn't be further from the truth. Read below to see why you should make the switch to organic lawn care products today!

The Organic Perspective

Soil is one of the basic building blocks of life on Earth. Filled with minerals, microorganisms, organic matter, water and air, it provides the nourishment to grow beautiful and healthy plants. Nature balances our soil with good and bad organisms that are both essential to its health. When there is an imbalance, symptoms of it will occur, such as, poor plant growth, disease and over population of harmful organisms.

Unfortunately, chemical pesticides kill the good bugs with the bad and it is usually easier for the bad ones to repopulate quickly, causing the problem to return if treatment discontinues.

The organic approach, treats harmful organisms by introducing more beneficial ones, correcting the problem by returning the natural balance. Chemical fertilizers can disrupt this balance, by feeding plants too quickly. A large amount of nitrogen causes weak cells to form and makes the plant more susceptible to insects and disease.

Chemical pesticides and herbicides (weed control) also run off into our streams and ground water, allowing them to enter our food system, not to mention the potential harm to family and pets that will play in your yard after a chemical treatment!

The good news is, there is a great alternative to using harmful chemicals that is economical, easy to do, and will produce greener and healthier lawn and plants.

Here at MONSTER Landscapes we specialize in organic lawn care. Our system will not only give you stunning results but will give you a healthy yard for years to come! Well balanced, organic soil can save up to 50% more water than soils treated with chemical fertilizers and weed prevention. The healthier your soil is, the more water it will retain, which means watering less often!

Another benefit of organic lawn care is that fertilizing is needed less frequently but gives maximum results, saving you money!

See a Price List for our Organic Fertilization Services!

Tips and Information

Organic Pest Control

Fire Ants

Keep your family out of harms way by getting rid of pesky fire ants!

• Cover the mounds with any organic fire ant killer, Garden-Ville Organic Insecticide is a great one and can be bought at local stores. You can also make a blend of your own, check out www.dirtdoctor.com for some great organic recipes!

• Also beneficial nematodes (microscopic organisms) are a great way to control the population of all harmful insects. Just be sure to use non-toxic pesticides so you don’t kill the good bugs too!

Mosquitoes

Avoid the harmful diseases that mosquitoes carry by keeping them out of your yard!

• Make sure there is no standing water around your property.
• Spray with a non-toxic or homemade organic pesticide as mentioned above.
• Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2, so they are naturally attracted to you and your pets. Make sure to lather up with a natural insect repellant!

Fleas & Ticks

Keep your pets happy by ridding your lawn of these intruders!

• Spray your lawn with a good organic pesticide, you can get some great recipes to make your own online at www.dirtdoctor.com, or you can purchase Garden-Ville Organic Insecticide which is also effective on fleas & ticks.

• Bathe your pets with shampoos that contain tea tree oil, or a peppermint castile soap, these will naturally deter the fleas and ticks.

• Mixing a clove of crushed garlic in with your pets food is a great way to deter the pests from the inside out!

See a Price List for our Organic Fertilization Services!Sign Up for our Earth Friendly Services TODAY!