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Protecting
your turf and the Earth
John Ewoldt
Star Tribune
Published Apr. 25, 2002 JE25
It's the question many of us ask ourselves every
spring around Earth Day: How green am I? Do I throw down the
chemicals to create the lushest lawn for all to envy? Or do I get
rid of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and sprinklers, and
hunker down against neighbors' objections?
Maybe you're dreading another season of mowing,
fertilizing and spraying, not to mention the effect that chemicals
have on the environment and on people and animals. Maybe this
year, less is more.
There are alternatives. They may not be as quick or
effective as chemicals homeowners are used to, but they come
close. Mark Miles, president of Greener Pastures, a local
"organic-natural-based" lawn-care company, said that although
consumers support organic methods, they still wonder if they'll
get the same results using them. Miles rates his organic
crab-grass killer a seven on a scale of 1 to 10, (with 10 being
the most effective in killing weeds). He also applies a fertilizer
made from sugar beet extract that takes four to six weeks to show
results, unlike the quicker synthetics. "Our product takes longer,
but you can roll around in it."
Greener Pastures also services commercial accounts
such as school districts in Roseville, Minneapolis, Forest Lake
and Minnetonka. Miles said that most of the lawn-care companies
that went organic have failed because they used products that
didn't work, or because they did a poor job of educating their
customers. Greener Pastures develops its own products as described
on its Web site, http://www.allabout weeds.com.
Minnetonka school district health and safety
specialist Jim McCann said the district uses Greener Pastures' 100
percent organic approach so kids aren't harmed. It's important to
inform the community about what products are being applied in
public areas, McCann said. "They use vegetable-based materials and
fish products. We post notification of applications on the Web and
near the application site and Green Pastures puts out the lawn
flags," he said.
Runoff
For homeowners who live near lakes or streams,
contamination of water is a concern. Mary Peterson, who lives near
Lake Minnetonka, had heard of organic approaches and wanted to
protect the lake. She avoids pesticides and fertilizers, trying to
mow the one-acre lot before the dandelion heads turn white. She
waters her lawn with water from the lake. "Our lawn is fine, and
we don't mind a few dandelions and clover. They keep it green,"
she said.
But not all homeowners are content to go organic
cold-turkey. One small step is to follow the lead of Shorewood and
Minneapolis, which have banned phosphorus in fertilizer. Rain
washes excess fertilizer into lakes and streams, and the
phosphorous contributes to algae growth, lowering water quality. A
bill that imposes a ban in the seven-county metro area by 2004 has
been signed by the governor.
Connie Fortin, an environmental consultant from
Medina, said that what we put on our lawns should be a concern for
everyone, not just those who live near water. Lawns are a good
filter in protecting water quality. Problems occur when
fertilizers and pesticides drift onto non-porous surfaces, such as
driveways and sidewalks. Fortin said homeowners should look for
ways to minimize runoff of lawn products into storm drains by
sweeping sidewalks and diverting drain pipes onto soil, not hard
surfaces. The ground is a better filter than a storm sewer, Fortin
said. Keeping lawn clippings on the lawn is a good organic
fertilizer, as well, but don't let the clippings wash into drains,
she said.
Fertilizers can be synthetic or organic. According
to Kamyar Enshayan, a faculty member with the Center for Energy
and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa,
both organic and inorganic fertilizers can contribute to the
problem if they're overused and the excess runs off into the water
supply. Still, the slow-release nature of natural fertilizers,
such as manure, makes them less of a threat. "It's all overkill. I
fertilize my lawn once every five years," he said.
Bans are beginning to extend beyond fertilizer
contents. Diazinon and another widely used pesticide, Dursban, are
being phased out of the retail market because of an agreement
between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and pesticide
makers. Enshayan is more concerned about pesticides and people,
especially children, being exposed unnecessarily. He is involved
in a program called Yards for Kids, which encourages organic lawn
care. Enshayan includes resources and tips on his Web site for
keeping a pesticide-free lawn looking good: http://www.uni.edu/yardsforkids
.
Green is hot
Organic and natural products are gaining greater
acceptance. Mike Hibbard, a horticultural adviser, said that when
Bachman's jumped into organic lawn and gardening 10 years ago, it
flopped. After gradually re-introducing it three years ago, sales
have taken off. "It used to be that customers wanted the cheapest,
most effective way. Now shoppers are looking to safer methods and
Bachman's encourages organics when possible, with as little
product as possible." Sometimes, they recommend no products at
all. Want to get rid of aphids? "Shoot 'em with a jet of water,"
said Hibbard. "Our philosophy is to get people to buy more
flowers, not more chemicals."
-- John Ewoldt
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