Starting a new organic lawn

Think of your lawn not just as a blank green carpet, but composed of thousands of separate plants. The organic lawn can feed birds and insects, as well as hosting flowers. And you can still mow, sit or play on it – without using unnecessary and expensive chemicals.

Here’s how.

If you are starting from scratch, plan a mix of grasses and clover. Whether you are laying turf, or sowing seed, consider the following:

• Rye grass – hardwearing and perennial, can withstand drought
• Red fescue – Hardwearing and reasonably tolerant of drought – includes slender and creeping varieties
• Bent grasses – these spread by their long creeping stems, which extend over the surface of the soil. The joints (nodes) of these stems take root very easily, to form the thick, velvety turf often used on high maintenance lawns such as golf courses.
• Clover – it’s not a grass, but it does lock nitrogen into the soil, which is a natural fertiliser. The flowers feed the bees, and it keeps the lawn looking green during a drought. Use a dwarf variety with small leaves.