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| Keep lawns safe for you, your family, pets and wildlife |
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| Magazine Articles - Gardening & Nature |
| Written by Lynn Jenkins |
| Thursday, 24 April 2008 06:41 |
For many folks, the term “organic”
conjures up a picture of the 1960s’
homesteading hippie, bedecked in bib
overalls. So, the word “natural” may be
a better word to describe the best gardening
and lawn practices. Plus, it gives
a little leeway if there is the rare occasion
when one must step off the organic
path to handle something truly out-ofcontrol.Furthermore, since the U.S.
Department of Agriculture has commandeered
the word “organic” with its regulations,
“natural” seems a more natural
way to go.
The lawn guy with the chemical spray has become as common in many neighborhoods as the milkman was in the l950s. Interestingly, that’s about when America’s love affair with the English concept of lawns took hold in an almost fanatic fashion. Post-World War II home ownership skyrocketed and with easy access to cars in our more affluent society, the suburbs with their expansive lawns became a reality. About the same time chemical companies, which had been busy producing weapons, were anxious to continue at their war time production rate, so they tweaked their formulations and began advertising their products to the new homeowners in the newest American lifestyle: the subdivision with affordable, mass-produced, cookie-cutter homes — each with an expanse of front lawn. With the proliferation of golf courses, beautification contests sponsored by the Garden Clubs of America, the lawn industry was riding high. Clover and violets didn’t have a chance. Yet clover is a nitrogen-fixer, pulling nitrogen from the air without the need of additional products. Plus the clover was an expected source of food for the honeybees that are necessary for plant pollination. Violets, one of the prettiest signs of spring, are a larval food source for fritillary butterflies. So with the loss of the lovely blue-purple spring flowers, we also lost many butterflies. The heavily sprayed lawns also create victims, such as robins who can’t find worms in polluted soil, and family dogs who are exposed to the chemicals then lick their paws. Many people wrongfully believe that any product approved for sale by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is safe. But in fact, approval for sale is no stamp of safety. Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides are all “cides,” a suffix from Latin meaning “to kill.” To assume that something is deadly to some creatures but does no harm to others is quite baffling, yet many people don’t make that connection and use “cides” indiscriminately. Moreover, the EPA has, more than once, recalled products it had previously approved. Dursban is just one recent example. In 2001, the EPA established a phased withdrawal for residential use of chlorpyrifos, Dursban’s main chemical ingredient. Requirements for healthy lawn A healthy natural lawn demands first, a new attitude about what to expect. If you insist on a thick green carpet for your lawn growing on soil barren of worms and other animals, you can either buy one at Cheap Carpet Outlets, or continue the chemical applications offered by the lawn guy. If, on the other hand, you want a live, healthy natural lawn that can give you safe passage for kids and pets, offer nourishment and shelter to birds, bees and butterflies, without harming the water we drink, then start with a new attitude about what your lawn should be. Protect and feed the soil Whether it’s lawn or garden, feed the soil not the plant. Soil is not dirt; dirt is what you sweep off the kitchen floor. Soil is the top layer of the earth and, when healthy, teems with life: microbes, bacteria, fungi and earthworms. This mostly microscopic community is critical to healthy soil and healthy plants, including grass. The living soil needs to be fed, and that is best done naturally by applying a 1/4- to 1/3-inch of organic compost over the lawn. Organic compost is ideal because it offers the full range of nutrients the soil needs while adding organic matter back to the soil. Fertilize less The standard for years for a natural boost in nitrogen has been alfalfa meal, available at farm or feed stores and some online retailers. Other popular organic fertilizers include ground corn, cottonseed, corn gluten meal and soy. Although the nutrient content is not as high as in synthetic fertilizers, the nutrients are more readily used by the organisms in soil, improving the physical structure of soil, allowing for better water-holding capacity and easier access to air by plant roots. There are prepackaged organic fertilizers available as well from Bradfield Organics and Gardens Alive! to name a few. For a natural lawn, a single application of fertilizer is often sufficient, but September is the optimum time to apply it, say the experts at Purdue University. If a second application is needed, apply another in November to encourage root growth and early spring green-up. Control weeds While many enjoy the beauty and benefits of clover and violets in the natural lawn, there may be other weeds such as dandelion or plantain that you wish to eliminate. Horticultural vinegar with 20-percent acidity works well in a spray bottle for attacking individual weeds; however, this is non-selective, which means it may kill or damage desirable plants. Consider corn gluten as preemergent for crabgrass and other annual weeds. Yes, the same corn gluten fertilizer also controls weeds. Apply in early spring to inhibit seed germination. The old standard of hand pulling is also effective for weed control with the added benefit of exercising the body. Mow correctly Higher mowing (3 to 4 inches) is best for the cool season lawn, such as bluegrass, fescues. The taller grass has more structure to receive sunlight for growing strong roots that will provide better drought resistance. Taller grass also shades out weeds seeds, reducing germination. Water wisely Indiana is blessed with more than 40 inches of rainfall annually, receiving about 4 inches a month during the hot summer months. Purdue agronomists recommend that lawns get about an inch of water each week during the growing season. If it rains that inch, no need to water that week. Most of Indiana’s lawns can easily withstand two to three weeks without water without any damage. Grass has a natural tendency to go dormant during a short drought and it will slowly recover as the rain returns. Natural lawn care is easy on the soil, family and pets, as well as the wildlife that use the lawn. An added benefit is that it’s easy on the caretaker. Slow down and enjoy your lawn naturally this summer!
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About the author Lynn Jenkins
Lynn Jenkins is the publisher of Indiana Living Green. She is also a Habitat Steward Host for National Wildlife Federation, editor of Hoosier Organic Gardener, the newsletter of the Indiana Organic Gardeners Association, and a member of Garden Writers Association.
Lynn Jenkins is the publisher of Indiana Living Green. She is also a Habitat Steward Host for National Wildlife Federation, editor of Hoosier Organic Gardener, the newsletter of the Indiana Organic Gardeners Association, and a member of Garden Writers Association.
