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By Dan Norris, Certified Turfgrass Professional
Spring in Northeast Ohio brings many delights. Birds building
nests, spring peepers calling out in the night and the Forsythia
starting to bloom all signal the start of a new season. The first
new blades of grass emerging in a suburban lawn is another sign
of spring. But is that grass a blessing or a curse? Certainly a
blessing to the child or dog who loves to play on it but possibly
a curse to the environmentalist who knows that grass treated with
chemical fertilizers and pesticides can pose both health and environmental
concerns. What is one to do?
Fortunately, there is a growing list of alternative practices and
products that can help to produce a healthy lawn without compromising
people’s health or that of the environment. First, let’s
take a look at the environmental costs of traditional lawn chemicals
that are widely used today.
Birds are among the first to be affected by lawn chemicals. Cornell
University professor of Entomology David Pimentel estimates that
seven million birds die each year from lawn chemicals. The Northern
Bobwhite, Eastern Meadowlark and Field Sparrow are just three of
the top twenty bird species in decline partly due to pesticide
exposure. Raptors can be especially prone to poisoning since they
are higher on the food chain and may consume poisoned wildlife.
A six-year (1991-1997) Canadian study of 754 dead or injured raptors,
including bald eagles and hawks, showed that pesticides played
an important role in harming the birds. In fact, five of the seven
known pesticides implicated in the raptor poisonings were taken
off the market in Canada after these findings were published.
Amphibians, great indicators of the health of our environment,
have been shown to be adversely affected by pesticides as well.
A study done by the US Geological Western Ecology Research Center
in 2007 showed a 100% death rate of Yellow–Legged Frog tadpoles
exposed to the common pesticide chlorpyrifos as it breaks down
in the environment. Researchers also found declines in populations
of the California Red-Legged Frog and the Cascades Frog due to
pesticide exposure. Tyrone Hayes, a researcher at the University
of California Berkeley, found that Leopard Frogs living in the
Midwest near pesticide contaminated ponds showed abnormalities
such as the possession of both male and female reproductive organs.
Although more research is needed in this area, it is clear that
pesticides and wildlife don’t mix.
The good news is that alternatives do exist for the average homeowner.
Natural and organic fertilizers are available for lawn, trees and
shrubs. These products are typically less mobile in the environment
and are utilized by the plant rather than running off. Organic
weed killers made from vinegar, clove oil and corn are available
and typically pose little or no harm to the environment. Beneficial
Nematodes and Milky Spore can be used to combat grubs in the lawn
and garlic sprays will keep mosquitoes and other insects away without
harming wildlife. Most insects are actually beneficial and cause
no permanent damage to your landscape. Likewise, what some see
as weeds are a sign of bio-diversity and make your lawn less likely
to be compromised by insects or disease. Smart planning will go
a long way. By planting natives and replacing traditional grass
areas with low mow or no mow grasses or prairies you can greatly
reduce the need for chemical or organic inputs while protecting
water quality and wildlife habitats.
The care of your landscape should not put you or the environment
at risk. Ask your local garden center to start carrying organic
products if they don’t already, and ask what natural alternatives
your landscape professional offers.
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