DO ITYOURSELFORGANIC

LAWN CARE

Go Organic!Over 10 million pounds of pesticides

are applied onLong Island everyyear. This presentsa threat of expo-sure to toxic chem-icals and contami-nation of ourunderground drink-ing water aquifers.

Insects, weeds,and fungal diseasesin a lawn are oftensymptoms of underlying problems.

Conventionalmethods thataddress thosesymptoms withchemicals thatcan be harmfulto human healthand the environ-ment are simplynot sustainable.

The Organic approach increases soilhealth, helps prevent disease with natu-ral materials, and enhances soil life.

It’s An Easy choice!The goal of an organic maintenance

program is to establish a healthy soilecology which provides your turf withnatural defenses against weeds, disease,and insect pests.

Families who want to maintain greenlawns without therisks associated withpesticides, need toknow that there arebetter, safer alterna-tives. Especiallywhere children areconcerned.

Children crawl and play on the lawn,put hands and toys in their mouths, andhave more contact with pets, which mayhave pesticides on their fur.

Exposure to toxins at a critical periodof development can result in permanentdamage to the nervous system.Children’s livers, kidneys, and otherdetoxification systems are not fullydeveloped. Many Pesticides remainlonger in their bodies, doing more harm.

Since Long Island’s water supply is drawn from theground, it is important to use fewer pesticides and syn-thetic fertilizers which can leach through the soil andcontaminate the underground aquifers. Synthetic nitro-gen may also run off from fertilized lawns causingalgae to grow in bays. As the algae die and decompose,they deprive fish of oxygen. Hypoxia, or a lack of dis-solved oxygen, is already a serious problem throughoutthe western part of the Long Island Sound.

Finally, your lawn can become addicted to toxicpesticides because they kill the beneficial insects,microbes, and earthworms that help maintain a healthylawn. When these “good bugs” are gone, expensive pes-ticides must be re-applied to kill pests that a healthy soilecology would have helped to control.

The Neighborhood Network7180 Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY 11735Tel: 631-963-5454 neighborhood-network.org

Healthy Environment, Strong Communities, Accountable Government

Healthy Environment, Strong Communities, Accountable Government

Where can I find organic products?Find a list of recommended lawn and gardenstores at neighborhood-network.org, or ask atany better nursery.

Some name brand products to look for:-Bonide-Concern-Critter ridder-Earth Tone-Espoma-Garden Safe-Garlic Barrier-Hot Pepper Wax

-Liquid Fence-Messina Wildlife-Organica-Ringer-Safer Brand-Shake Away-St. Gabriel's-Victor Poison Free

NEIGHBORHOODNETW RK

NEIGHBORHOODNETW RK

MowingCutting grass higher (3' to 3.5') will shade out

weed seeds and keep them from germinating. Thisis the easiest, most basicstep to controlling weedsand eliminating pesticideuse. Avoid cutting off morethan one-third of the grassblade at a time. Cuttingmore can shock the plantand inhibit root growth. Inthe spring, you may have tomow more than once a week. Always keep mowerblades sharp. Dull blades tear grass, leaving largersurface areas vulnerable to disease.

Leave grass clippings on the lawn, providingvital nitrogen to keep the lawn green. This willreduce the need for fertilization and watering. Inhealthy organic soil the clippings break down quick-ly, a mulching mower will speed the break down.

WateringWater infrequently but deeply. Only about once

every 7 to 10 days in the summer when there hasnot been a good rain. Light watering encouragesshallow root growth. Shallow roots dry out quicklyin dry, hot weather.

You should wet the soil down to the full rootdepth, about 6 inches.To know how deep the soil is

saturated, stick a shovel orspade into the soil and pressforward; look behind thespade to see how far downwater has reached. Or waterlong enough to apply an inchof water on sandy soil (moreon clay). If you do not know

the rate of your sprinkler, put a coffee can in itsrange and measure the water collected after an hour.

Do not over-water. Too much water can suffo-cate turf and encourage disease. More lasting dam-age can be done to a lawn by over-watering than bydrought. Organic lawns have better soil structureand more organic material, they hold more waterand can withstand dry weather better.

CompostCompost contains beneficial microorganisms, and

organic material. These are especially important for the first two

years of transition to an organic program. Spread 1/4inch thick on turf then rake in.

Some landscaping companies are now providingcompost tea applications, which provides many of thebenefits of compost, but is easier to use.

Soil AmendmentsLime

Test the pH of your soil before applying. Soil testkits are available at local garden stores. You can also

send a soil sample to CornellCooperative Extension for testing.Keep the pH as close to 6.5 as possi-ble. Long Island soil is likely to bemore acidic (less than 6.5). If yoursoil is too acidic, add lime to raisethe pH of the soil. Look for calciticlime rather than dolomitic, unlessyou know your lawn needs magne-sium. In addition to raising pH,lime adds calcium, which discour-

age dandelions, because they thrive in low calciumsoil. Pellitized lime is effective and easy to apply; ifapplying powdered lime, wear a dust mask.

KelpKelp products are a natural source of micro-nutri-

ents including vitamins, plant growth hormones, andtrace minerals. Using kelp in the spring can protectyour lawn from summer heat stress. It also helpsestablish grass seed.

Rock DustRock dust adds trace minerals that are important

for plant growth. Remineralizing your soil willimprove turf vitality. this can be spread any time ofthe year, even in winter after a thaw.

Rock phosphateRock phosphate will add phosphorous which is

important for root systems. It should be applied in thefall. Avoid run-off near fresh water bodies.

The best time to water is in the early morning, justbefore 6 AM. Watering should never be done at night andgenerally not in midday sunlight.

SeedingSeed with fescue blend, a blend is preferable to a sin-

gle strain of seed, because different strains will survivedifferent diseases and weather conditions. Kentucky bluegrass can grow on Long Island, but it needs more waterand fertilizer than other grass.

Thick turf is the best way to prevent weeds. Seedbare and thin patches. The best time is the end ofAugust through September; you can also seed in lateApril into May.

Keep the lawn aerated. Earthworms and other soillife are the best aerator. In heavy traffic areas you may

occasionally need to use a coreaerator. (Do not use spikemechanicisms, as these tend tocompact soil to the side of thespike.) Follow with a top dress-ing of compost, and apply grassseed to crowd out any weeds.

FertilizerFertilizer is less important for organic lawns than it

is for chemically-dependent lawns. Low-maintenancefescues, where clippings are left on the lawn will needvery little added nitrogen. Kentucky blue grass mayneed as much as 2 lbs./1,000 square feet per year. Applyhalf the year’s fertilizer around Memorial Day and theother half around Labor Day. If you only fertilize once ayear, Labor Day is the better time. Do not fertilize in latefall (after October).

If your turf needs nitrogen, use organic fertilizerwith low water soluble nitrogen, 5% or less is good.Organic fertilizers have a much lower N-P-K numbers,usually adding up to about 10 to 15. Soil microbes makethe nutrients plant-aviable, releasing them slowly.

Adding white clover seed will reduce the need forfertilizer. Clover “fixes” nitrogen from the air, adding itto soil. Grass and most other plants cannot. However,clover blossoms may attract bees. If children play onyour lawn frequently, you might want to avoid clover.

Pest ControlWeeds

Weeds take hold in bare or thin patches.Mowing higher, seeding bare spots, and proper fer-tilization will prevent most weed problems. Smalloutbreaks of perennialweeds can be weeded byhand or killed with hotwater. Cover large patchesof annual weeds with a mixof lime and compost, thenseed on top. Adding calci-um discourages dandelions;proper pH helps controlcrab grass.

GrubsSoil insects such as grubs can be controlled

with beneficial nematode. Apply nematode in theearly morning or late evening, or on a rainy orcloudy day, and in spring or late summer. Directsunlight will kill these delicate microscopic worms.

Other Pest InsectsInsects can be controlled with a number of

organic products, one example is garlic juice, whichrepels mosquitoes and ticks. Do not spray garlic onflowering fruit trees or vegetable gardens, or beeswill not pollinate them. If you are having a party,spray a few days before. The garlic odor will bestrong until it dries in about a day. Garlic will keepmosquitoes away for two to four weeks.

Hot pepper wax will repel insects from yourbushes, flowers and vegetables.

Dollar Spot and Other Fungal DiseasesApply a high quality compost, composted

wood bark, compost tea, or a microbial inoculantcontaining trichoderma fungus. When you mow,remove clippings so they do not spread the disease.Do not over-water or water in the evening.

Feed the soilRemember weeds, insects, and diseases are

indicators of an underlying condition. If you onlytreat the symptom and not the cause they willrecur. The underlying cause, is usually malnutri-tion of the soil and the plant. Compost, composttea, and proper pH balance will solve many prob-lems.

Longer blades meanlonger roots

Frequent,light wateringencouragesshallow roots