Fact - Lawn pesticides can linger in your home

Sure, pesticide-users for their lawn may get that emerald green lawn they've craved - but it comes with a price.  Turns out, pesticides are very persistent, and can remain in your home for days, months or even years.  Far from a settling discovery.


How pesticides move
Pesticides can move from their intended targets - typically a lawn - via evaporation through the air, water, food and general surface contact.  Once they evaporate, they become part of the water cycle.  The US Geological Survey (USGS) has found nearly every pesticide they've investigated in the air, snow, rain or fog(1). 

Pesticides in your home
Unfortunately, pesticides can linger even longer inside the home.  If they're not exposed to sunlight or rain, pesticides can last even longer:

• The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) determined that outdoor pesticides residues are tracked indoors by shoes and pets, and can increase concentration in carpets by up to 400 times.  And, they can last for years.(2)  
• A 2003 Silent Spring Institute study (originally funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health) proved home owners can be affected by pesticides in their homes for even decades after being tracked in. 

Definitely some sobering statistics when considering the use of pesticides on your lawn.  We'd love to hear your thoughts on the use of pesticides.

Have you tried the natural way?  
 
Sources
(1) United States Geological Survey. 1995. Pesticides in the Atmosphere. United States Geological Survey Fact Sheet. FS-152-95.
(2) New Scientist 5 May 2001 No. 2289.
(3) Nov 1, 2003, environmental science and technology, Kellyn Betts. 409a, Silent Spring Institute

Sparky's Safe Lawn Tip - Consider adding compost and soil amendments

Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy spirit...healthy soil.

Just the same way all of us don't look like Brad Pitt, we can't all be blessed with perfect soil.  But don't fear: with a little ingenuity and the addition of healthy soil amendments, your soil can get a lot closer. 

Understand your soil test
To start, you've got to understand the outcome of your soil test.  If your soil has less than 5% organic matter, is damaged by chemicals and is compacted, then use 1/4-1/2 inch compost.

Become a composting captain!
Compost is an ideal soil amendment, filling in that much-needed organic content to your soil and suppressing any grass pathogens.  In addition, compost helps your soil by helping neutralize the soil; and keeping in nutrients and water by adding water and microorganisms.  One more great thing about compost: by helping along any other issues your soil may have, this frees you up to do to the gardening you love.  Great, right?

How composting happens
Organic matter is transformed into compost through the work of microorganisms, soil fauna, enzymes and fungi.  Your compost should give these beneficial organisms the best environment to flourish.  To make this happen as quickly (and effectively) as possible, you need to balance four key ingredients:
1. Carbon - Carbon-rich materials are like the power bars for microorganisms.  Examples are dry leaves, straw and rotted hay.
2. Nitrogen - High-nitrogen materials add protein so microorganisms can multiply.  Examples are fresh weeds, grass clippings, overripe fruits and veggies.
3. Water - Moisture's important; but as a rule of thumb, keep your soil like a well-wrung sponge.
4. Oxygen - Your little microorganisms need O2 to do their best.  Be sure to keep turning and aerating your compost pile.

More resources
Gardener's Supply did a great article on "All about composting" - check it out here.  Composting is fun, and also a great way to work with our environment...and get a healthy lawn in the process.

What are some of your composting recipes?       

Celebrate Earth Day this weekend

At Natural Turf, everything we do is to make the Earth a better place - for you, your family, your health.  This weekend, take a moment to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. 

Mobilize the Earth. 

Here's some details, but be sure to visit Earth Day's official site to learn more and to get involved:

Why do we need an Earth Day? 
Earth Day broadens the support, consciousness and activism for environmental programs throughout the world - and your local area.  Here's a great video. 

What can you do for Earth Day? 
Get involved - and the possibilities are endless.  Just do something that benefits the Earth.  Here's a couple ideas: volunteer, build a community garden, write to your governmental representatives about environmental causes...or just take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature.

What's Earth Day Network?
From Earth Day's site: Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes year-round environmental citizenship and action, worldwide.  EDN is a driving force, steering environmental awareness around the world.  Through EDN activists connect, interact and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. EDN's international network reaches over 22,000 organizations in 192 countries, while the domestic program assists over 30,000 educators, coordinating thousands of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year.  

How can I get involved with Earth Day Network?  
Visit their official page here.

We here at Natural Turf will respect the Earth this weekend.  How will you?  Share your stories!

Sparky's Safe Lawn Tip - Garden your way to lower stress!

Hey, it's tax day tomorrow.  I know we all must be feeling a little uptight here.


So, what better way to reduce your stress levels that our favorite pastime - baseball - uh, no...I mean gardening!  The Gardening Channel put together a great little article, "Garden your way to lower blood pressure" on the healthy benefits of gardening. 

Here's a few:

• Gardening lowers stress - Step away from the hustle and bustle of the every day: offices, traffic, honking horns, appointments, etc. and step into your garden.  Taking the time out to immerse yourself in nature's a good way to relax and give your body an opportunity to checkout. 
• Gardening is great exercise - Yup, gardening is a form of exercise - and that always helps us feel better by releasing positive endorphins.  We could all use a more glass-is-half-full outlook, right?
• Gardening can be done anywhere, anytime - No matter where you live, you can always tend to something green, vibrant and beautiful.  Here in NJ, we're getting into our season.  But, you can always nurture indoor plants during the winter! 

Checkout The Gardening Channel's article for more great tips.  After that, we'd love to hear how your garden helps you feel better.

Happy gardening, Zen Master!

Sparky's Safe Lawn Tip - Overseed weedy or thin areas

You're making great progress on your lawn.  Things are looking positive for the upcoming Spring season.  Good for you.

Now, one of the more familiar cultural practices is to overseed weedy or thin areas on your lawn.  It has great benefits for your lawn - especially to maintain that thick, healthy and vibrant emerald look.

The Lawn Care Academy put together a great post about overseeding, here's the 411:

What is overseeding?
It's really just what it sounds like: spreading (more) grass seed over your existing lawn.

What types of grasses require overseeding? 
Not every kind of grass does; and it's primarily reserved for cool season bunch type grasses like tall fescue, fine fescue, perennial, annual ryegrass and sometimes bluegrass.

Why is overseeding necessary? 
After time, mature grass pants begin to slow their reproduction rate.  Since the average blade of grass typically lives 45-60 days, production of new tillers must continually outpace the dieback of older leaves.  Younger grass grows faster than older grass - so, you gotta' keep your grass young.

How much seed should I apply? 
The amount of seed differs on the type of grass, and can also be adjusted based on the thickness of your lawn.  If you're overseeding annually now, then use less seed.
 
Achieving a beautiful lawn is hard work; but, we all know it's worth it.  A labor of love.  What's been your experience, challenges or successes with overseeding?

The harmful effects of pesticides on our water supply

We often assume that putting pesticides on our lawns will stop there.  Unfortunately, it's not the case.  The same dangerous chemicals users treat their lawns with eventually find their way into our groundwater supply.  And, that's just not good for anyone.

Beyond Pesticides, a leading policy and action group protecting our health and environment, has a great fact sheet about the dangers of pesticides on our water supply. 




Here's some highlights:

• Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 17 are detected in groundwater, and 23 have the potential to leach. (xxi)
• Runoff has resulted in a widespread presence of pesticides in streams and groundwater. 2,4-D, found in weed and feed and other lawn products, is the herbicide most frequently detected in streams and shallow ground water from urban lawns. (xxii)
• Of the 50 chemicals on EPA’s list of unregulated drinking water contaminants, several are lawn chemicals including herbicides diazinon, diuron, naphthalene, and various triazines such as atrazine. (xxiii)
• Runoff from synthetic chemical fertilizers pollutes streams and lakes and causes algae blooms, depleted oxygen and damage to aquatic life.

 Sobering stats.  All the more reason to choose and promote natural alternatives to lawn care.  Get involved, get educated, get natural.
 
 

Sparky's Safe Lawn Tip - Suppress weed germination with corn gluten

April's here, so now we need to get into it. Early Spring is when early root activity begins on your lawn, so we need to think about suppressing weeds. Great thing about natural lawn care is that Mother Nature has a great way to take care of that: corn gluten.

Kelly Burke, a regular columnist on Lawn Care at About.com did a great profile on this yellow wonder. You can checkout his entire article here, but here's some highlights:

What is corn gluten?
It's a powdery byproduct of the corn milling process. It was accidentally discovered as having similar properties to preemergent herbicides. Thus, making it a perfect, natural alternative to chemical herbicides.

How does corn gluten work?
Corn gluten inhibits root formation of germinating seeds. Application timing is critical - right around this time is great, and before weed seed germination begins.

How much corn gluten should I use on my lawn?
Application rates vary depending on whether the gluten is powderized, pelletized or granulated. But, a good rule of thumb is 20 lbs/1,000 sq. ft.

There's much more to checkout on Kelly's article - check it out. Are you considering corn gluten this season?