By Misty McNally
Americans covet lush landscaping. It portrays an ideal place for kids to play and dogs to run, that our neighbors will admire. But at what cost? Conventional summer lawn-care utilizes commercial fertilizer, chemical pesticides, water-wasting sprinkler systems and gas-guzzling, air-polluting lawn mowers.
We’ve been convinced our yards are deficient if we don’t have a weed-free carpet of lawn, says Paul Tukey, author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual (Storey Publishing, 2007) and founder of SafeLawns, an organization promoting natural yard care. Yet most of the landscape products we use to achieve these “Stepford lawns” are harmful.
The more chemicals used, the more needed, because we eventually kill the good—beneficial insects, microorganisms and plants—along with the so-called bad, Tukey says.
“It’s self-perpetuating,” he says. “Using chemicals creates the need for more pesticides and herbicides. We call these lawns ‘rugs on drugs.’”
Fortunately, this vicious chemical cycle can end.
Enrich Your Soil the Healthy Way
“Healthy soil is a living, breathing organism,” Tukey says.
A soil test is crucial. Consult your local extension office or use simple pH kits from garden centers. After determining the soil’s composition, extension agents can suggest amendments.
“Healthy soil will grow healthy grass,” Tukey says. “And that grass will defend itself against insects and crowd-out weeds, so you won’t need to spray a bunch of chemicals on it.”
Less is More
Less grass means less mowing, lower petroleum consumption and fewer emissions from gas-powered mowers.
Many plants may replace grass. Most garden centers provide ideal choices including native species adapted to the local climate and soil.
If you prefer a traditional lawn, Tukey suggests a turfgrass variety that suits your climate. It will need less water, mowing and work.
Amazing Facts
- It takes 18 gallons of gasoline annually to power the mower, run the sprinkler, transport garden products and to clean up in the fall—totaling 2.2 billion gallons per year nationally, according to
www.SafeLawns.org.
- Landscaping accounts for half of residential water use.
- Every 40-pound bag of lawn fertilizer contains the fossil-fuel equivalent of 2.5 gallons of gasoline, according to
www.SafeLawns.org
.
- Sixty-five percent of each yard’s fertilizer will end up in runoff.
- Homeowners use 20 times more pesticides per acre than farmers (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
- Average yard waste comprises 20 percent of landfill waste, but can be as high as 50 percent in peak months (U.S. EPA).
- In one hour, a running lawn mower emits as much air pollution as one car driven 20 miles (U.S. EPA).
Safe Landscaping Timbers
Be careful that your landscape timbers haven’t been treated with pesticide chromated copper arsenate (CCA) or preservative creosote. Both are health hazards. An EPA ban mandates that no manufacturer may treat wood for residential uses with CCA, but it is found on all types of pressure-treated lumber; creosote is mostly found on railroad ties and utility poles. Look for landscaping timbers that are untreated or are treated with only borate. Or look for composite lumber made from wood and/or recycled plastic.
Enlisting Help
No organic-only lawn care service is available nationwide, but NaturaLawn of America is working on it, and local organic services are available. If you need a lawn-care service, request all organic; if the company can’t comply, an individual or small company that will do the work if you provide the products may be available.
Provided by Natural Home - http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com
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