Is your lawn chemically dependent? Every year, many of us treat our yards with pesticides and fertilizers in hopes of creating a healthy and attractive lawn. The problem is that many of the products we use on our lawns aren’t good for us or for the environment. The good news is that there are simple, nontoxic alternatives that can keep your lawn healthy naturally. Some of them can even save you money!
What’s wrong with the usual fertilizers and pesticides?
Unfortunately, improperly used fertilizers can contribute to water pollution by contaminating groundwater and by encouraging algae growth in streams, which disrupts aquatic ecosystems. Pesticides cause problems, too — many are toxic to bees, birds, fish and other forms of wildlife. (A report from Beyond Pesticides has a great summary of environmental effects of different pesticides.)
Another cause for concern is that many common pesticides (and that category includes insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) have well-documented health risks including suspected roles in a number of kinds of cancer, as well as damage to the nervous system and developmental disorders. Even the common herbicide Roundup is associated with a number of health risks. Two good sources to learn more about the health risks of specific pesticides are the pesticide factsheets of the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) and the National Pesticide Information Center.
So what do you use instead of chemical pesticides and fertilizers? In fact, some of the most effective methods for maintaining a beautiful lawn are both simple and nontoxic.
Here are several strategies to consider:
1. Plan ahead to minimize problems.
The easiest way to keep your lawn healthy and keep unwanted weeds out is with a little preventive maintenance that stops problems before they get out of hand. For example:
- Keep your lawn healthy from the beginning by choosing a type of grass suited for your region and climate. This is also a good way to minimize watering.
- Stop weeds before they get started! In areas where you can’t mow, you can prevent weeds by using newspaper or plastic covered with mulch.
2. When you need fertilizers or pesticides choose natural, nontoxic options.
- To find least toxic solutions for weed and pest problems, a good place to start is with these factsheets from NCAP. (For garden pests, check out our recent article on organic pest control products.)
- You may be surprised to learn that there’s no reason to choose commercial fertilizers over ones you can harvest yourself. One excellent option is grass clippings, which provide a natural, slow-release fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Grass clippings are not as harsh on your lawn as some chemical fertilizers, less likely to wash away — and they’re free!
3. Learn to live with (or even love) a few weeds.
Sometimes all that’s needed to fix a weed problem is a slight change of perspective. Clover is a good example of how personal preference determines whether or not we think of plants as weeds. Take a quick look online and you can find detailed advice both on how to get rid of clover in your yard, and how to add more of it!
Rather than fight weeds, you may discover that there are a few you can live with, and even enjoy. For example:
- Dandelions and purslane are two common “weeds” that some people deliberately plant in their gardens as food crops.
- Some weeds have medicinal value including plantain, stinging nettle and yellow dock.
- Other weeds may actually make your lawn or garden healthier. Dandelions are a good nectar source for many beneficial insects. So is clover, which is also recommended in this article as a cover crop that adds nitrogen to your soil.
4. Consider reducing the amount of grass in your yard.
It may sound radical, but do you need or want as much lawn as you have? Here are two popular alternatives to traditional turf:
- Lose the lawn and try xeriscaping. This term means landscaping to reduce water use, and it can make a lot of sense in drier climates where a lawn simply isn’t practical. Xeriscaping techniques may include using more decorative rock in your yard, or focusing on a few drought-tolerant plants. Check out this recent article about a Colorado couple for one example of a yard redesigned for a dry climate.
- Put in less grass, more edible plants. Why not give your garden room to expand? You can grow a lot of food in the typical front and back yard. Click here to learn more about a campaign to get the next U.S. President to show support for homegrown food by planting a food garden on the White House lawn. Another option to consider is edible landscaping, the idea of choosing decorative plants that also produce food crops, such as strawberry plants and apple trees.
What are your experiences with “greener” lawn care? Have you found nontoxic techniques and products that work well? Have you recently changed your ideas of what a “lawn” should be? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
Megan E. Phelps is a freelance writer based in Kansas. She enjoys reading and writing about all things related to sustainable living including homesteading skills, green building and renewable energy.
