Should You Use Organic Lawn Fertilizer?

Anyone who maintains a lawn can tell you the importance of fertilizer, but when confronted with the decision to choose between chemical or natural fertilizer, some may not know which one yields better results. While both options perform essentially the same function, organic lawn fertilizer promotes healthier and longer-term benefits.

The main advantage to natural fertilizer is its ability to improve the condition of your soil. This is the foundation on which your grass and plants live and feed off, and having a strong and healthy base is crucial for successful growth. Organic fertilizer is proven to not only increase water hold, but also store nutrients for a longer period of time. Thanks to the healthier soil, lawn moss and mushrooms may be considerably less threatening as well. Chemical fertilizer, on the other hand, doesn’t provide any sustainable benefits to soil. In fact, it can change the soil pH, mess with microbial ecosystems and even increase pests.

Furthermore, organic lawn fertilizer is comprised of natural elements, such as plants, animal waste or powdered minerals. Thus, it is renewable, biodegradable and sustainable. Because of the pure makeup, there’s no need to worry about toxic buildup on your lawn, which could severely damage or kill your plants. If you were to use chemical fertilizer, which is mostly made from nonrenewable sources such as fossil fuels, you’re risking toxic buildup every time you apply it. Toxins include cadmium, uranium and arsenic. If that’s not bad enough, these chemicals could potentially travel into your fruits and vegetables.

In short, chemical fertilizers are often used for a quick fix. They do help plants grow—and quickly—but there’s no long-term advantage to using them on your lawn. Organic lawn fertilizer is utilized by those who want to create a solid soil foundation for plants, flowers, and grass, which results in a strong lawn that can withstand a myriad of conditions.