Eco-Friendly Ways to Keep Your Lawn Looking Lush

Print Article Print Article

By Colleen Diskin

RISMEDIA, July 2, 2008-(MCT)-You can live “green” and still have a lush green lawn, advocates say. With lawn-care season in full swing, a number of eco-conscious organizations are trying to educate homeowners about ways to battle weeds and nourish grass without polluting the environment with pesticides, fertilizers and gas fumes from the lawn mower.

They say a lawn can be just as green with corn gluten and organic fertilizers and they’re pleading with residents to stop using so many pesticides and to stop over watering.

They’re urging homeowners to switch to push reel or electric mowers. A typical gas-powered mower emits as much pollution as 11 cars, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Jane Nogaki, pesticide program coordinator of the New Jersey Environmental Federation, said many suburban homeowners wrongly think they can’t have an attractive lawn unless they use a “four step” program of pesticides and fertilizers.

“I once heard someone say we need a 12-step program to get people off these step treatments,” Nogaki said. “It’s like a chemical addiction.”

While many homeowners might think chemical pesticides are necessary to grow grass instead of weeds, Nogaki said they only kill weeds in the short term. She said the better method is to pull weeds or spot treat them with organic products, and then rake in more grass seed.

Lawn pesticides, which have been linked to increased risk of cancer, asthma and immune disorders, are particularly harmful to children. In addition, chemicals used on lawns can run off into streams that feed drinking water reservoirs.

With concerns about pollution and global warming increasing, more people have begun to seek eco-friendly lawn care advice and products, said Paul Tukey, founder of the website, SafeLawns.org.

“Ten years ago, it was impossible to get 10 people in a room to talk about organic lawn care,” Tukey said. “Now I go places to speak and there are 100 people in the room.”

In 1995, only one half of one percent of the lawn products on the market was labeled “organic.” This year, the figure has grown to 10%, Tukey said, and the fertilizer industry has promised an increase to 50% within the next five years.

Consumers, however, are being cautioned to check the labels on any products labeled “natural” or “organic-based.”

“A lot of companies will dupe people by saying ‘organic-based’ or ‘natural,’ which isn’t necessarily truly organic-and even some products labeled ‘organic’ aren’t necessarily organic,” Tukey said.

Eco-Friendly Lawn Maintenance Tips:

If you do it yourself:

- Spread one quarter inch of compost or sprinkle organic fertilizer on your lawn each fall.
- Seed with a mix of hardy grasses.
- Mow high, leaving grass blades at 3 to 4 inches tall. Your grass will need less water.
- Leave grass clippings on lawn as fertilizer.
- Don’t overwater. Lawns typically only need an inch of water a week in the summer. One way to know if a lawn needs water is to see if it holds your footprints when you walk across it.
- Don’t waste water. Use soaker hoses instead of sprinklers to conserve up to 50% more water. Consider buying an outdoor water timer. Water in the morning, when it’s less likely to evaporate, and take advantage of rain by directing run-off from gutters to your lawn.
- Use a push reel or electric mower.

If you have a lawn service:

- Request corn gluten and organic fertilizers instead of “weed and feed” products.
- Refuse routine pesticide applications. If pesticides are used, they should be applied sparingly by a licensed professional. Ask for the name of the products and request and read the safety information beforehand. Look up toxicity at pesticide.org
- Be aware that pesticides can persist in lawn and soil for longer than the posted 24 to 72 hours.
- Ask for an organic program.

For a list of accredited organic lawn care maintenance companies, check the website of the National Organic Farming Association’s organic land care page: nofamass.org/programs/landcare/index.php

Source: New Jersey Environmental Federation

© 2008, North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

For more consumer tips and topics, see:


© RISMedia 2008. All Rights Reserved