Tips for a healthy lawn & garden

Lawn CareThe problemIn traditional lawn care where grass is treated with harsh chemicals, adults, children and animals are exposed to a variety of herbicides and pesticides. These chemicals force the lawn to grow at an artificial rate. Children, who tend to make contact with grass when playing, are particular vulnerable to exposure to these harmful chemicals. One study of pesticide exposure and childhood cancer rates, published in May of 2003 by the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, found children with leukemia were 4 to 7 times as likely to have been exposed to pesticides used in the yard or garden compared to children without the disease. These chemicals are also washed off by rain and eventually enter the water table, with the potential for further damage to people and nature.The solutionOrganic lawn care, where harsh chemical are not used to wipe out insects and weeds, can produce a truly healthy lawn, safe for children and adults. The chemicals used to fertilize organic lawns are plant derived and safe for people and plants. Homeowners who change to organic lawn care often see more birds and animals in their yards over time. Organic lawns experience a slower rate of growth with an enriched and long-lasting pleasing color. Organic lawns are in much better condition year round because they are no longer dependent on chemicals.
Soil SafetyThe problemDo you know where your garden’s soil came from?  You should. Soil can be contaminated with heavy metals and harmful chemicals.  The compost you purchase can contain yard waste, meaning you are including the problems from other people’s yard into your own. Parents who wouldn't feed their children from dirty bowls sometimes feed their families from gardens planted in soils that may not be safe.The solutionYour certified arborist can help you have your soil tested by a professional soil and plant pathologist. Typically, these reports cost between $150 and $300. They provide a full panel of information on your soil including if it contains harmful pathogens, heavy metals and chemicals, as well as an analysis of the nutrients and Ph balance of the soil.If the tests indicate your soil is severely contaminated with heavy metals and toxins, the environmentally responsible response is to have the contaminated soil trucked off to a proper disposal site and brings in clean soil from a reliable source willing to provide extensive documentation on the soil’s purity.If soil is contaminated with pathogens, diluting it with clean, organic compost and soil amendments that can include bone meal, blood meal and mushroom compost can often successfully treat it. Some plants and trees, including non-Northwest native plants, can help absorb some pathogens when planted.
PruningThe problemTrees do not need to be pruned. We choose to prune trees to create a specific appearance. The end goal of pruning should be to keep your trees healthy so they’ll last a long time. Unfortunately homeowners are often encouraged by non-professionals to “top” their trees or rely on old-fashioned methods of tree treatments including black tar “wound paint.”  Topping can promote rot and decay from the top of the tree down.  While homeowners can be persuaded that topping will reduce the change of damage to their home from extremely tall trees, the opposite is true. A topped tree will potentially create 10-20 new shoots which are not properly attached to the tree and create a sail, making the tree more vulnerable in a windstorm.  So-called “wound paint” or black tar, often used when homeowners prune their own trees to cover the area where a limb has been removed, actually seals in pathogens and promotes rot and decay.  Trees will seal their wounds naturally when properly pruned.The solutionPruning when not done correctly can destroy a tree’s health. Your family’s safety can be jeopardized if big, heavy trees near your home are not properly cared for. When hiring someone to prune your trees and assess their health, consider only certified arborists.  Ask for several references and go and see their work. 
New ConstructionIf you are thinking about or have already purchased a new construction home, keep in mind that your now beautiful yard will need some additional care down the road. In a new home typically the site is excavated then topped over with fill dirt of unknown origin. New homes are often built without planning for the needs of nearby big trees, whose root systems can stretch out to over two times the length of the trees height. Landscaping is often thrown in last, without planning and care, and pumped full of harsh chemicals. That is why it is not uncommon for the beautiful yard you saw when you bought your new home to change dramatically during the first year of residence. Having your soil tested before planting any gardens and having a certified arborist examine your trees for any signs of stress would be the first steps in protecting your investment and family’s safety.
You can start caring for your lawn and garden organically today.Begin today with switching out any harsh chemical-based fertilizers to organic-based solutions. Consider having your soil tested if you haven’t already and use only a certified arborist to assess the health of and care for your trees. Organic gardening over time can create a safer environment for you, your family and pets and bring nature back into your yard.Organic solutions to garden pest control
  • Coffee grounds sprinkled throughout your garden beds can repel insects, deer and cats.
  • Consider “companion plantings” such as stinging nettles to reduce insects.
  • Cover garden beds with crushed seashells or coco and hazelnut shells to discourage snails and slugs.
  • Plants including creeping oregano, rosemary, Chrysanthemums and Feverfew can attract wasps, which will eat aphids.
  • Parsley will attract ladybugs, which also eat aphids.
Helpful Links
Recommended BooksSunset Western Garden
Edited by Kathleen Norris Brenzel
Sunset Publishing Corp.
 
Month by Month in Washington and Oregon
Authors: Alison Beck and Marianne Binetti
 
The Organic Gargener's Home Reference
Author: Tanya Denckla  Copyright 2005 Nature’s Helper Northwest

 

 


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