Organic Vs. Synthetic Lawn Fertilizers
LAWN TIPS: PROS & CONS OF NATURAL VS CHEMICAL FERTIZLIZERS
Advantages of Organic Lawn Fertilizers
In lawn care products, organic simply refers to how the components came about. Organic substances derive naturally from living organisms whether it's plants or food. There must be absolutely no human intervention for a product to be labeled organic. Synthetic fertilizers are generally made from non-renewable resources like fossil fuels. Here at Hillside Landscaping Co., based in Berlin, Connecticut, we offer the best in organic lawn care, we apply organic fertilizers and soil amendments five times a year to promote natural phenomena in the soil and give your lawn the best chance to succeed without the chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers.
Advantages of Synthetic Lawn Fertilizers
In comparison, synthetic fertilizers do provide an advantage because they are fast-acting and begin absorbing into the soil immediately after watering. Also, the application of these fertilizers tends to be easier because of the exact ratios of nutrients that can be achieved by using these chemicals. Lastly, they’re inexpensive, which can be attractive when looking at the short-term impact.
Related: 10 Organic Lawn Care Benefits
Disadvantages of Synthetic Fertilizers
Despite a few positives, there are significantly more drawbacks to remember. Due to where we get these synthetic fertilizers, they cause significant damage to the environment. Not only are they harmful to the environment, these synthetic fertilizers can hurt those that should be enjoying the lawn the most, our children and our pets. These fertilizers provide no support for your soil long-term. After applying these synthetic fertilizers to your lawn, these synthetic fertilizers tend to leach away from your plants, requiring additional applications (more $$$). This increases the risk of toxic chemical/salt buildup due to over-fertilizing. Lastly, the long-term use of chemical fertilizers can change the soil pH, upset beneficial microbial ecosystems in your lawn/soil, increase pests, and even contribute to the release of greenhouse gases.
Advantages of Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, are safe for everyone do absolutely no damage to the environment considering where these fertilizers derive. Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly, over time. As these fertilizers break down on your lawn, the structure of the soil improves, making your lawn the perfect environment for holding water and nutrients. This slow release of nutrients makes it impossible for over-fertilization to take place. As a result, there is no risk of toxic chemical/salt buildups which can wreak havoc on your lawn’s ecosystem. These toxic buildups can result in excessive levels of arsenic, cadmium, and uranium in your soil, which is cause for concern for not only your lawn but any fruit/vegetables on your land.
Making Your Lawn Fertilizer Choice
Before you make the decision to put chemicals on your lawn and potentially put your family at risk, make sure you know what’s going on underneath your feet. If you wish to keep your family safe and live in harmony with nature by making a lasting improvement in your own lawn, organic fertilizers outweigh chemicals by leaps and bounds. If you wish to speak with a Hillside Landscaping Co. Organic Lawn Care Professional, please contact us with any questions!
