An Organic Lawn-Care Expert Visits my Farm
You may have seen my television show this past Tuesday with guest, Paul Tukey, an organic lawn-care expert and founder of SafeLawns. Paul is also a motivational public speaker and the author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual.
I have a keen interest in organic lawn care because I have animals, large and small, at my farm. After our informative TV segment, Paul and his wife, Katie, stopped by the farm to take a look at the lawn and hay fields. My property manager, Mike, and Dominick, who cares for the fields, showed them around. Paul took notes and also some weed specimens and I look forward to hearing his advice when he gets back to me.
-
- Paul Tukey arriving at my farm – Love the T-shirt!
-
- Katie – Paul’s wife, Paul, Dominick, and Mike discussing various lawn problems.
-
- This particular area has a lot of wild violet growing. Because it is beneath tall pine trees, Paul suspects the soil has a low pH level, which can be raised by adding high calcium limestone.
-
- A closeup of the wild violet
-
- Paul is a firm believer in spraying lawns and plants with compost tea and asked if there was a brewer on the property. We have one in the greenhouse.
-
- Spraying a lawn with compost tea spreads beneficial microbial life into the soil and onto the grass foliage. This brewer is from Growing Solutions. www.growingsolutions.com
-
- The next stop was one of the paddocks where the horses graze.
-
- Paul liked what he saw here.
-
- He thought that the balance of clover and grass was a good ratio.
-
- Dominick was happy for that good report.
-
- The group was transported by Kawasaki to one of the hay fields, where Dominick is having a weed issue.
-
- Paul was impressed with the quality of the pasture mix.
-
- However, Dominick is bothered by a very nasty weed and is curious for Paul’s recommendation for an organic eradication.
-
- The weed has sharp thorns, which is a terrible presence in fodder. Paul thinks it may be in the nightshade family and he took it for positive identification.
-
- The group drove past the compost area, a subject of great interest to Paul.
-
- The next stop was another hayfield to look at a different weed Dominick would like to be rid of.
-
- Dominick explained that this one has been spreading rapidly through the field for the past couple of years and the horses really dislike it.
-
- This weed grows like a vine and has thick and glossy leaves.
-
- It also has numerous seed pods.
-
- Those pods most likely burst open, sending out seeds that blow in the wind. Paul also took this weed for analysis.
-
- Mike asked about feeding the grass in the turkey pen.
-
- Paul commented that because of all the turkey manure, the soil will already be high in phosphorus.
-
- Katie loves horses and no trip to the farm would be complete without visiting the stable.
-
- Katie and Paul visited each of the boys.
-
- This stretch of lawn is where I recently hosted an outdoor wedding. It has since been aerated and fertilized.
-
- Paul Tukey posing with a copy of his book – The Organic Lawn Care Manual
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
