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Lawn Now, Birds.... Later?
Lawn care companies are notorious for treating the
whole lawn instead of the problem areas exposing more areas for potential
contact with wildlife. Birds often eat granules left behind and they also
feed on the bugs that have been exposed to the lethal chemicals. To put it
in perspective, people worry about West Nile killing off certain species of
birds, yet lawn chemicals are responsible for killing thousands more. There
is something that we can do now and that is to take steps to create a
environmentally friendly lawn.
It Starts With The Soil
In order to have healthy grass you must have healthy
soil. Adding a thin sprinkling of compost in the spring and fall will add
nutrients to the soil. If you don't have your own compost try contacting
your city. Many cities now have composting facilities were you can pick up
bags or truck loads of compost at a reasonable cost. Leaving grass clippings
on the lawn will also release nutrients back into the soil. If your soil is
heavy with clay or compressed from high traffic you may want to aerate the
soil a couple times a year.
Mow High and Often
The longer your grass is kept (3 inches) the healthy it
will become and the more aggressively it will be able to shade out potential
weeds. Mow often enough so that you never cut more than one-third of the
grass blade. Mower blades should always be sharp enough so that they
actually cut the grass instead of tearing.
Weed, Rake and Water
If you must use a weed control besides the old
dandelion picker, choose one that is as organic as possible. It is important
to always read directions carefully and only treat the problem areas rather
than the entire lawn. Also, raking your lawn will lift the thatch (layer of
dead plant material) allowing water and nutrients to penetrate the soil and
reach the grass roots. If your lawn needs water, it is better to water
deeply and not too often. Roots will grow deeper making your lawn more
drought tolerant. An organic lawn is a happy lawn, a happy lawn is a happy
habitat for both wildlife and your family.
Advice contributed by 'Boo' |
