5 Ways to Reduce Your NJ Water Footprint

Because water is readily available from the faucet, we rarely think twice about how much goes down the drain each day. According to National Geographic, it takes 1,800 gallons a day to support the typical American lifestyle—and that number peaks in the summer when the sprinklers are on full blast.

Many NJ residents make the mistake of drowning their yards in order to achieve a plush, green lawn. While water is vital to maintaining healthy turf, you can reduce the amount you use and conserve a precious natural resource by watering smart--not more! Here are a few changes you can make to reduce your NJ water footprint.

1. Landscape creatively. A smaller lawn equals lower water usage; and shrinking your patch of natural grass also reduces mowing, fertilizing and related pollution. Instead of seeding or sodding your entire yard, plant a healthy mix of ground cover, shrubs, trees and other low-water-use greenery.
2. Select drought resistant or native plants that thrive in the New Jersey climate. If you don’t want to pour a lot of sweat and tears into your yard, consider xeriscaping to incorporate plants that are beautiful--yet require little water and attention.
3. Add mulch and rock. Applying 2-3” of mulch helps retain moisture longer and keeps weeds out. Replace natural turf with mulch or gravel around decks, patios, and playgrounds. This change makes for a virtually maintenance-free and water-free solution.
4. Mow higher, and practice “grasscycle.” Keep blades sharp and adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Lawn experts at Natural Turf recommend mowing at a height of 3-4” in the spring and summer and 2 ½” for the last cut in the fall. Taller blades shade the turf roots, hold soil moisture better and crowd out weeds. Also, leave the grass clippings when you mow. It's a free way to fertilize and return valuable nutrients to the soil.
5. Water deep, not often. Water in the morning, and only when needed: about an inch per week to penetrate through to the roots (and less if it’s cloudy or rainy). Overwatering can lead to turf diseases, wash out nutrients and contribute to runoff and waste.

Remember, every drop counts! The less you use, the more green you save—not only in terms of money, but also the environment. A natural lawn care maintenance program is the sensible choice if you desire a beautiful, healthy lawn but don’t want to jeopardize your family’s health or strip precious natural resources.

At Natural Turf, we exclusively use natural and organic lawncare products that strengthen your lawn to handle summer stress while helping to reduce your water consumption. Call our natural lawn care specialists today for a consultation, or to learn more about our seasonal and year-round lawn care programs.

Reducing Summer Water Consumption with a Natural Lawn

In the summer months, your yard is an outdoor retreat. So, it’s no wonder New Jersey homeowners spend a great deal of time and energy creating a lush, carpet-like lawn. But achieving that patch of heaven comes at a price. Two of the culprits in draining the pocketbook are overwatering and over-fertilizing. Conventional lawn maintenance causes summer water consumption to spike to nearly double normal levels. Even more staggering: Safelawn reports that Americans apply 80 million pounds of pesticides and herbicides to their grass each year. That’s 10 times more than farmers use on their crops, per acre.

Attaining beautiful, healthy and sustainable turf doesn’t require throwing your hard-earned money away on quick fixes and toxic chemicals that deplete your lawn of necessary nutrients. For example, beneficial microbes help break down organic matter into food for your grass. Pesticides kill these good microbes, preventing normal, healthy processes from occurring. Synthetic fertilizer contains high doses of nitrogen, which greens your lawn and speeds growth. However, most of the fertilizer’s energy is spent on the blades, causing roots to stay close to the surface instead of tapping deep into the ground. So, during droughts, this weakened grass can easily wilt away. This forces homeowners to turn on the sprinklers more often—and forces turf to become dependent on chemicals for survival. It’s a vicious cycle that can be avoided with a natural lawn care program.

Natural and organic lawn care reduces the time spent tending to your yard, minimizing the need for harmful chemicals. A natural, slow-release or organic fertilizer delivers safe nutrients to grass over an extended period of time, promoting stronger root growth and increasing the ability for soil to retain water. Using chemical-free products helps grass to maintain its healthy natural growth cycle –and a healthy lawn can fend off diseases, pests and the elements. In the long run, a sustainable backyard lightens the burden on the environment, your health and the watershed.

At Natural Turf, we believe you can have it all—a thick, beautiful, natural yard treated with chemical-free, effective products that are safe for your family, pets and friends. Call our NJ lawn care experts today to learn how to reduce your summer water bill with naturally and organically maintained turf!

The Environmental Cost of a Perfect Lawn, Part 2

If you caught our previous blog, you know that pesticides leach into our groundwater at an alarming rate. If you don’t use natural lawn care, you’re likely applying between 3 and 10 pounds of toxic pesticides to each acre of your lawn each year, according to the Toxics Information Project. That creates a large amount of trace chemicals which run off into the ground water and wreak environmental havoc.

According to Beyond Pesticides, 16 of 30 commonly used pesticides are dangerous to birds, 24 to fish, and 11 to bees. Dogs exposed to toxic pesticides are twice as likely to develop canine lymphoma, to say nothing of the beneficial insect species that toxic pesticides WIPE OUT. These therapeutic insects are vital to a healthy lawn, and are left intact in high-quality natural lawncare programs.

And pesticides don’t just harm the wildlife. The Georgia State Government says that 50 percent of the U.S. population relies on ground water for drinking water, and children – who are more vulnerable to pesticides because of their small and growing bodies –remain more likely to be exposed to lawn pesticides than adults. The environmental dangers caused by toxic pesticides affect all of us… even those of us who never use them.

An organic lawn care program can break that cycle. Natural turf is stronger and healthier than a lawn treated with toxic pesticides, and a natural lawncare service can bring out the best in your lawn without harming the environment. At Natural Turf, we believe in the positive benefits of an eco-friendly lawn. Our pesticides work with the local ecosystem: keeping insects out of your lawn without blanketing the area in poisons. Our organic lawn care products enrich the soil and strengthen the roots of your grass, maintaining a healthy lawn for years and decades to come. Your organic grass will look great, and more importantly, you’ll safeguard your family and the nearby environment.

When you start today, you’ll be taking a small step to solve a BIG problem. Contact Natural Turf to discuss our natural and organic lawn care programs, inquire about pricing or schedule a free consultation. We’ll show you how green and beautiful a natural lawn can be!

The Environmental Cost of a Perfect Lawn, Part I

According to the Toxics Information Project, Americans use 67 million pounds of toxic pesticides on their lawn every year. That means 3 to 10 pounds of pesticide per acre of lawn. Because pesticides are applied in small doses, people naturally assume that the damage is minimal—or only impacts the area immediately around their lawn. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When you water your lawn or it rains, the resulting runoff carries trace pesticides into nearby groundwater, which can in turn get back into your drinking water. Unlike natural lawncare, toxic pesticides deplete oxygen in the water, create blooms of algae and cause serious damage to the local ecosystem. According to Beyond Pesticides, out of 30 common lawn pesticides, 17 have been detected in groundwater and 23 have the potential to leach into the nearby environment. Imagine that damage, compounded by the damage caused to family and neighbors who are more directly exposed to lawn pesticides. It’s scary, and it’s happening all over America.

That’s why natural lawn care makes so much sense. Natural Turf is committed to sharing safe, organic lawn care with your family—bringing you the lush green carpet you expect, without damaging the environment. Natural fertilizers and pesticides working in conjunction with the environment: doing the job without contaminating your soil or poisoning water runoff. And our Natural turf looks just as good as turf treated with toxic pesticides, while providing a safer environment for both your family—and the ecosystem.

At Natural Turf, we specialize in natural lawn care, with a variety of programs that treat your lawn year-round. Our pesticides keep bugs away without damaging the soil, and our organic lawn care techniques strengthen roots to make for a stronger, healthier lawn overall. Calls us today to see how natural lawncare can work for you… and make the world a little greener in the process.

Is Your New Jersey Yard Pet Safe?

A healthy NJ lawn should be something you and your family enjoy together. That includes your pets—who revel in the chance to play fetch, have a run, or take a rest on your emerald-green grass. But while certain chemicals and pesticides make your lawn thrive, they can have a detrimental – or even FATAL – impact on your pets.

The biggest concern, in terms of your pets, is lawn care pesticides. According to “Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats,” pesticide use has increased by over 13,000 percent since 1962! It’s an alarming number; and while some pesticides cause little more than a stomach ache, others can interfere with an animal’s metabolic process and even poison him. Pesticides impact both outdoor and indoor pets — since a lawn care service using toxic or misapplied chemicals will leave residue that you or your family can track inside. Dogs or cats are then exposed to it, ingesting it as they clean their fur.

Fertilizers follow the same pattern as insecticides. Organophosphates, used to grow plants, can create painful symptoms in a pet who ingests them. Symptoms may include drooling, uncontrolled defecation, breathing difficulties and even seizures. Even some organic fertilizers can create problems for pets. Blood meal, for instance, may contain bacteria that dogs and cats seek out, believing it to be a tasty treat. Bone meal, too, is instantly appealing – it’s ground-up bone, after all – but if your pet takes in too much of it, it can cause indigestion, pancreatitis and even worse symptoms.

The key to avoiding these hazards is to use a natural NJ lawn care company that understands the risks. At Natural Turf, we use organic fertilizers and pesticides that are guaranteed pet safe, while promoting seed germination and all-natural greening to make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood. Choosing between a beautiful yard and your pet’s safety is no choice at all: Natural Turf organic lawn care takes the guesswork out of the equation and gives you the safest, most beautiful lawn you can envision – while protecting your furry friends! Call our team of organic lawn care experts today to schedule your spring consultation!

5 Benefits of New Jersey Natural Lawn Care

If natural New Jersey lawn care seems more complex and challenging than relying on chemicals and pesticides, think again. In fact, the reverse is true. While the results may come more gradually, long-term use of natural lawn care provides superior results, as well as a number of tangible, healthy benefits! Consider the following:

1. Benefits to the Soil: Chemical fertilizers act by dumping toxic compounds into your NJ soil. Over time, these chemicals pool together and solidify, causing soil compaction where grass roots struggle to grow. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, contain natural pellets and husks, which keep the fertilizers from coalescing in the soil. This allows grass roots to penetrate more deeply and benefit more from the fertilizer—resulting in a stronger lawn that’s nutrient rich!
2. Benefits to the Grass: In addition to the lack of soil compaction, organic fertilizers contain beneficial microorganisms that act in harmony with your lawn’s ecosystem. Specifically, they allow more oxygen to reach the roots of the grass, as well as creating a healthier and more bio-organic environment for grass to thrive.
3. Safety: The safety of your family comes second to nothing, and any lawn worth cultivating becomes a natural gathering place for you and your kids. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides present an increased risk to your family, who may absorb them through the skin as they come into contact with them. New Jersey organic lawn care eliminates that danger, and helps you enjoy your beautiful lawn without worrying about hazardous, unseen side effects.
4. Environmentally Friendly: Because they contain no toxins, organic lawn products have a deeply reduced impact on the environment. They release their ingredients slowly over time, rather than building up on the ground or in nearby water. Chemical lawn care involves concentrated amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, which can severely damage the environment – and specifically your yard – in the long term.
5. Cheaper: The best reason to go with natural lawn care may be the simplest: it costs less over time. Chemical compounds create increased cost to cover their development and implementation. Natural lawn care products are created simply, which means they don’t cost as much to produce!

At Natural Turf, we believe in the advantages of natural lawn care and organic lawn maintenance. What’s more, we’ve seen its impact on the lawns of thousands of satisfied New Jersey customers. Give us a call today to see how much better your lawn will look under natural care.

Protecting Your Kids from Their NJ Backyard

As parents, we go to great lengths to safeguard our children from stranger danger, online predators and substance abuse. Unfortunately, many New Jersey families don’t realize that their kids face grave peril in the midst of their beautiful, green backyard.

Here are the FRIGHTENING FACTS:

1. Children are more vulnerable than adults to the dangerous pesticides used in New Jersey lawncare. Their internal organs are still developing and their small bodies are growing—so they’re less able to detox the poisons they’ve inadvertently absorbed. ¹ The National Academy of Sciences warns that 50 percent of lifetime pesticide exposure happens before kids turn five years old—so early protection is KEY.

2. While adults may experience slight breathing problems from pesticides and chemicals, these pollutants can cause serious breathing problems in children!

3. Studies have linked the pesticides common in NJ lawn care to child asthma, hyperactivity, developmental delays, behavioral conditions, immune suppression and motor disorders.²

4. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that residential pesticide use may increase childhood leukemia risk SEVENFOLD. ³

5. Developing cells are more sensitive to the synthetic poisons used by New Jersey lawn maintenance companies. As childhood cells divide quickly, mutations can spread—and increase cancer and disease risk. ⁴

In addition to environmental exposure, research indicates that NJ pesticides can pass from mother to child through breast milk and shared umbilical cord blood. It’s scary stuff—and the reason that neurologist and CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says: “Babies in this country are born pre-polluted.”

Heed the wake-up call! Your kids trust you to protect them, and you can start by exchanging poisonous pesticides for organic New Jersey lawn care. Using safe, natural products like corn gluten meal, Hi-Cal lime and organic fertilizers, Natural Turf works to make your backyard a safe place for kids, pets and adults, alike. Learn more about Natural Turf’s 100% organic lawncare program today by calling 1-866-558-LAWN today!

Natural Turf blog references:

¹ EPA. 1996. Environmental Health Threats to Children. Office of the Administrator. 175-F-96-001. ² http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/facts&figures.htm#xiii. ³ Lowengart, R. et al., 1987. “Childhood Leukemia and Parent’s Occupational and Home Exposures, “ Journal of the National Cancer Institute 79:39. ⁴ http://www.cehi.org/pesticides.html

What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You: Four Dangerous Things Your Lawn Care Company Is Hiding

Contrary to what mega-lawn care companies would have you believe, a lush, green lawn is not necessarily a healthy lawn. The truth is, 78 million U.S. households use chemicals to eliminate pests and beautify their lawn*--and studies show that most of those chemicals are MAKING US SICK.

So, before you hire that lawn company to coat your yard in herbicides and chemicals, check out the dangers they won’t bothering sharing:

1. Over 100 million pounds of pesticides are used EVERY YEAR on American homes and lawns. According to a U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, 100 percent of 9,282 people tested positive for pesticide exposure. The average study subject carried at least 13 of 23 tested pesticides!

2. Most traditional lawn care companies use a toxic soup of fertilizers, weed killers and broad-spectrum biocides to green your lawn and kill off pests. What’s in the soup? Of 30 tested chemicals:

· 19 are carcinogens

· 21 are linked to reproductive effects

· 26 are tied to liver and kidney damage

· 15 are linked to neurotoxicity, and

· 11 are believed to disrupt human endocrine systems.**

3. While your children and pets aren’t actively “grazing” on your lawn, they’re absorbing pesticide poisons through the skin—or by breathing in pesticide vapors. Kids and house pets have a much greater rate of exposure than adults—since they’re frequently found sitting in the grass or playing in “pesticide drift” from neighboring lawns.

4. Many lawn care chemicals contain “inert” substances that aren’t listed on the active ingredients list. Federal law doesn’t require manufacturers to list these inert ingredients, but it’s important to understand that “inert” does NOT mean non-toxic. Some inert ingredients are toxins, and are hazardous to water supplies and to your nervous system.

It’s impossible to prevent exposure to pesticides due to their heavy use on golf courses, school campuses and other public spaces, but you can START WITH YOUR OWN BACKYARD. Here at Natural Turf, we believe that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice safety to enjoy a beautiful lawn and garden. Protect your family!

Call the natural lawn care experts to schedule your free consultation or inquire about CHEMICAL-FREE lawn maintenance.

*Info courtesy Beyond Pesticides (www.beyondpesticides.org).

**Info courtesy National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides.