Here at Casa boran, we do the natural thing when it comes to lawncare. I’ve taken this route to avoid both being enveloped in a chemical cloud during the application process and having nasty compounds sitting in my child’s play area. I mulch leaves into the lawn in the fall and do the same with clippings during the mowing season. (Yes, the lazy approach.)
Inorganic fertilizers contain nitrates, at least some of which gets into the groundwater.
University of Minnesota Extension
Inorganic fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate are all water-soluble or quick-release N sources. …
Once beyond the rootzone, nitrates can continue moving through the soil and may find their way into groundwater sources. …
New research has now shown a relationship between use of fertilizers and pesticides and premature births/birth defects.
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 7, 2007 (ENS) – The rising premature birth rate in the United States is associated with increased use of pesticides and fertilizers containing nitrates, according to research by a professor of clinical pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. …
Winchester and his colleagues found that preterm birth rates peaked when pesticides and nitrates measurements in surface water were highest, from April through July, and were lowest when nitrates and pesticides were lowest, in August and September.
The highest rate of prematurity, 11.91 percent, occurred in May and June and the lowest, 10.79 percent in August and September. These results were independent of maternal age, race, education, marital status, alcohol or cigarette use, or whether the mother was an urban, suburban or rural resident.
Nitrates can have several effects.
Nitrates and pesticides can disrupt endocrine hormones and nitric oxide pathways in the developing fetus,” Winchester said. …
In young infants, ingestion of nitrates, components of fertilizers that are often washed into
surface water and groundwater, can reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
THe lazy approach is looking better and better. For those with greater needs, there are organic fertilizers now on the market.
I mulch leaves into the lawn in the fall and do the same with clippings during the mowing season. (Yes, the lazy approach.)
I’m glad to see you’re taking the smart way to do this and you know I’ve always like the lazy approach. 🙂
I bow to the master.
You’ve learned well, and I’m happy to see that you grasshopper are spreading the word of “Slackdom” along with the important stuff. 🙂
Lawn? What lawn?
Actually we have lovely native grasses mowed by lovely native critters and our Alpacas (who have very soft feet and don’t compact the soil). ‘Paca poo and bunny poo goes into the veggie garden. The only “amendment” we use is the occassional seaweed concentrate in the vegetable garden.
Also, all of our plants, save the veggie garden which gets old bath water, survive on rainfall alone.
Another thing to consider in your gardening – your pets. Since they spend more time in and amongst your plants than you do, and are lower to the ground, they are much more likely to develope adverse effects (including cancer) from whatever you put on your lawn or plants. So, if you wouldn’t want to roll in it, don’t put it where you dog can.
If you are going to mow your lawn, please consider getting an electric or a four-stroke gasoline mower. Two-stroke gasoline mowers are horrible poluters. Two- stroke engines may produce as much as ten times the hydrocarbons as four-stroke engines, plus emit more particulate matter, and they are less energy effiecent.
If the cost is prohibitive, consider buying one with a friend or neighbor and sharing it.
For those living in the Southwest, I consider having a green lawn as incredibly self-centered. In addition to being concerned about the fertilizer, I really worried about about the use of water for irrigation. Each drop is so precious. And I certainly wouldn’t want what water is available contaminated.
And when I read about a golf-course being developed out here I want to throw things. Fortunately, most people in Santa Fe are moving to xeric landscaping. It took a little time for me to “get” that aesthetic, but now I love it.
My one question is why do weeds seem to need neither water nor fertilizer? Grrr.
we can’t seem to neglect the lawn to death. It just keeps growing and growing. So, to reduce the total amount of quality time spent with the electric mower and electric weed trimmer, we keep digging up bits and planting native perennials. Eventually we hope to get rid of the whole thing, but it’s a big yard and a damned slow process.
This reminds me of a comment I heard years ago. “Why should I water the lawn, it will just grow faster?” Unfortunately his solution was to pave the yard, no absorbtion during our numerous downpours.