Moving Trend Toward Organic
Many lawn care products are highly toxic and manufacturers
of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are campaigning to tidy their image and are touting the health and lifestyle benefits of thick,green lawns.
Healthy Lawns
Tips for improving the health of your lawn:
- Have soil tested for nutrients and fertilize accordingly
- Sweep loose fertilizer off paved surfaces back onto the lawn to avoid waste
- Mulch grass and let the clippings return to the soil
- Have annual aeration to reduce soil compaction and improve root growth.
A recent survey sponsored by Organic Gardening magazine in conjunction with the
National Gardening Association estimates that of the 90 million U.S. households with yards, about 5 million are exclusively using organic
methods, 31 million are using a combination of organic and chemical methods and 35 million are using primarily chemical methods, indicating
there is a significant portion of people interested in or are moving toward organic methods.
The green industry has reason to worry. Increasing
concern about the impact of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers on human health and the environment is fueling a
movement to ban or restrict the "cosmetic" or "aesthetic" use of artificial chemicals for lawns and gardens.
Over the last several years, the pesticide industry has successfully lobbied state legislatures to pass
"pre-emption laws." These give states responsibility for pesticide regulation and prevent cities and towns from enacting their
own laws. And you thought you lived in a democracy!
By most accounts, the number of lawn care companies touting a natural, organic approach is rising rapidly.
At least one traditional lawn care company is developing its own line of organic products - although there's no agreement on what "organic" means.
I don't use any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, encouraging valuable
insects like ladybugs, praying mantisis, and spiders to take up residence. A couple of lawn snakes and an application of
castor oil solution (to make the worms taste bad) make the moles go elsewhere.
I let grass clippings lay on the yard to decompose into valuable lawn food. Worms
turn the soil and leave behind valuable castings. Lawn damaging grubs are controlled with parasitic
nematodes. Compost and hand-picking control the garden weeds.
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