Which lawn fertilisers are free from chemicals?
The days of having to drench lawns with chemicals are long gone. These days gardeners are now spoilt for choice with plenty of offthe-shelf natural or organic fertilisers available.
1 Organic CleanLawn from Neudorff is a three-in-one feed that promises a thicker, greener, drought-resistant lawn, with packs containing trace elements, mycorrhizal fungi and soil revitalising organisms. It claims
“mycorrhizal fungi increase the surface area of the roots by up to 150 times” so the lawn is “able to absorb water and nutrients more effectively, promoting resistance to drought and frost”. The formulation is also said to suppress moss and weeds.
2 Westland says its SafeLawn Natural Lawn Feed appeals to households who don’t want to use lawn chemicals in gardens with children or pets. SafeLawn is an organic fertiliser with added grass seed to thicken and fill in patches. The product, which comes with a built-in applicator, is said to prevent moss and weed growth. 3 Look out for MO Bacter from the Viano brand of organic lawn fertilisers. It’s a slow-release granular fertiliser that, instead of turning moss black like some of its chemical rivals, cleverly digests it, removing the chore of raking dead moss from lawns. Where lawns have been subjected to stress, such as after flooding or hard wear, Recovery, also from Viano, is worth considering. This organic fertiliser acts as a plant growth stimulant, claiming to keep grass fed for up to 12 weeks. 4 A new kid on the block is organic Super Smart Lawn Feed from Johnsons Lawn Seed. It features three naturally occurring ingredients: beneficial bacteria (azospirillum) that ‘fix’ nitrogen to roots, mycorrhizal to boost root systems and micronutrients that enhance a lawn’s green appearance.