Lawn Logic
Grassroots4Change believes in using Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, as a way for people to safely care for their lawns throughout the year.
Why IPM?
Herbicides, fertilizers and pesticides can be useful, but they’re often unnecessary, excessive, and used improperly, creating health risks. So, IPM helps people utilize them only when absolutely needed.
Steps to Follow
- Identify problems.
- Check whether chemical treatment is needed.
- Try nonchemical methods.
- Use the least harmful treatment necessary if the problem remains.
- When temperatures increase for the summer, make sure to water your plants more often to combat the heat.
What are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?
Pre-emergent herbicides are a product used to control unwanted plants or weeds on lawns. They’re applied before certain weeds emerge and prevent weed-seeds from successfully developing into established weeds.
Risks of Pre-Emergent Herbicides
The use of pre-emergent herbicides does yield risks. They can:
- Degrade soil health, making it difficult for plants to thrive
- Run off into water ways
- Affect helpful plants and organisms they were not intended to target
- Increase risk for health issues such as skin irritation, respiratory problems, and cancer
IPM: Herbicide Avoidance/Reduction
Overseeding
Mow at Higher Heights
Overseeding
Seeding bare spots on your lawn allows grass to grow thicker, leaving less room for weeds. Overseeding will improve the quality of your lawn without use of herbicides and provide long-term weed control, as the new grass will compete with weeds over water, sunlight and nutrients.
Use Mulch
Mow at Higher Heights
Overseeding
By adding about 3 inches of wood chips or other natural mulch, you can block sunlight from reaching weed seeds, which prevents weeds from growing. Using mulch also holds moisture and adds organic matter to the soil. If applied incorrectly, mold may grow. In addition, the soil can also become soggy, which leads to rotting.
Mow at Higher Heights
Mow at Higher Heights
Mow at Higher Heights
Maintaining your grass at 3-4 inches to block sunlight from reaching weed seeds will prevent weed growth without herbicides. That said, the higher grass could possibly trap moisture, leading to brown patches.
What are Fertilizers?
Fertilizers contain concentrated nutrients that cause grass to restart active growth and restore the plants to a deeper, lusher green.
Downsides to Fertilizers
Fertilizers can:
- Pollute waterways, therefore harming aquatic life
- Degrade soil health making it difficult for growing plants to thrive
- Cause chemical runoff into ground water, contaminating drinking water
- Cause brown patches due to fertilizer burn
- Be toxic to pets and children if touched or ingested
IPM: Fertilizer Reduction/Avoidance
Test the Soil First
Slow-Release Fertilizer
Water your Lawn Wisely
A soil test shows what nutrients are necessary for your lawn and whether its pH should be adjusted. This will prevent unneeded use of fertilizers, save money, and identify actual problems within the soil. Even so, this requires planning, and may take a week or two to receive results.
Water your Lawn Wisely
Slow-Release Fertilizer
Water your Lawn Wisely
Water only when your lawn needs it, taking rainfall and weather conditions into account. Overwatering can increase runoff and carry nutrients away from your lawn. By watering with care, you can save water whilst building strong roots on your lawn. Take into consideration though, this requires patience and close monitoring.
Slow-Release Fertilizer
Slow-Release Fertilizer
Slow-Release Fertilizer
Slow-release products feed the lawn gradually rather than delivering large amounts of nitrogen at once. This type of fertilizer will lower the risk of fertilizer burn, as well as fertilizer leaking into the surface or ground water. However, slow-release products do cost more, and will cause your lawn to turn green slightly slower.
What are Pesticides?
Pesticides are a type of substance used to kill, repel and or control harmful organisms and unwanted pests.
Drawbacks to Pesticides
Pesticides can:
- Kill non targeted insects
- Pollute water and soil
- Cause humans to feel dizzy, nauseous, and can even to experience rashes and headaches after short-term exposure
IPM: Pesticide Reduction/Avoidance
Plant Insect Traps
Attract Natural Predators
Attract Natural Predators
Insect trap plants manipulate pest behavior by both eliminating and confining them to one place instead of all over your lawn. By planting these, you can reduce your use of pesticides while being more cost effective and boosting the biodiversity of your lawn. The only concern attached to the introduction of insect trap plants to your lawn is the maintenance and the slight decrease in efficiency of eliminating pests completely.
Attract Natural Predators
Attract Natural Predators
Attract Natural Predators
By planting native flowers around your lawn you will attract pest-eating organisms such as birds and ladybugs. This provides a healthy, natural method of pest control for your lawn. The only limitation is that it takes time to become effective and even when it does, will not remove all pests entirely.
Identify Pests
Attract Natural Predators
Identify Pests
Before applying a pesticide, determine which pests are actually creating a problem. Not every insect found on your lawn is harmful, and some may even be beneficial. This prevents unnecessary pesticide applications and helps to ensure you choose the correct treatments. However, identifying pests can take additional time or require assistance from a lawn care professional.
Happy Fall!
When autumn comes around, most people will use emergent herbicides such as glyphosate and 2,4-D, because they kill weeds that have grown throughout the year. They work especially well during the fall because long-lasting weeds absorb the product down into their roots in preparation for winter. However, they tend to do more harm than good.
Concerns about Agrochemicals
Glyphosate, a common chemical used during winter preparations, has raised numerous concerns, including several about human health.
- The World Health Organization classifies it as a carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent.
- Several studies link it to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
- In addition to the consequences to human health, it also pollutes the soil and waterways via runoff.
- Because of this, it harms organisms in the soil which normally benefit its health.
- It is often detected in rain and water, meaning it can spread far and wide without you realizing.
What You Can Do
Here are 4 steps you can take during the Fall to prevent recurring lawn problems and reduce the need for chemical treatments that are harmful to your children and pets. With these, you can potentially avoid harmful treatment of your lawn.
Plant grass early in the season. Thicker grass leaves limited space for weeds to grow in. Overseeding will build a healthier lawn without the use of harmful herbicides.This process requires proper timing and regular watering. Some weed-prevention products can stop new grass seed from growing.
Snow traps moisture, creating a breeding ground for snow mold. The shorter the grass is, the smaller the pockets between the grass and snow are for mold to grow. Grass height maintenance doesn’t present many challenges, however it can lead to some imperfections on your lawn such as bumps or uneven spots.
By clearing garden beds before the coming winter, you can reduce rot and stop pests from surviving through the season.
Treat individual weeds instead of spraying the entire lawn with herbicides. When you must, use the smallest amount recommended on the label of any chemicals. Don’t apply herbicides before rainy or windy days. When using harmful lawn products, use them away from storm drains, sidewalks, and the edge of the bay.
Winter
When winter comes around, it is a great time to review your landscaping contract and collaborate to form a safer lawn-care plan, such as IPM, with your landscaper before treatments begin.
What to Look for in your Contract
When signing a contract with a landscaper for the upcoming season, there are some things that you should ensure to check for in order to avoid excessive fertilizer damage.
Avoid contracts that apply pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides on a fixed schedule. Treatments should align with an identified problem, not just ritually sprayed.
Ask the company to limit treatment to affected areas instead of spraying the entire lawn. This strategy is better known as spot treatment.
Require the landscaper to contact you before applying any pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, or grub treatment.
It is critical that you know exactly what and why something is they way it is on your lawn before spraying it with herbicides.
Your contract should list:
- Product name
- Active Ingredient
- Purpose of the treatment
- Area being treated
- Required time for children and pets to stay off the lawn
Ask for fertilizer reccomendations based on a soil test, not a standard package.
Choose a fertilizer with primarily slow-release nitrogen. Ask for the smallest amount possible and avoid fertilizer containing phosphorus unless a soil test shows it is necessary.
Avoid automatic “weed and feed” treatments. The entire lawn shouldn’t receive herbicide treatment when only a few weeds are present.
Ask the company to apply products away from storm drains, sidewalks, driveways, flowering plants, and the edge of the property.
The contract should prevent spraying before rain or during hot, windy weather spells.
Services to Request
Here are the major things you can ask of your landscaper to improve lawn health.
- Mow grass ~3.5 to 4 inches high.
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn when possible.
- Overseed bare and thin areas in fall.
- Improve soil with compost.
- Pull or spot-treat weeds.
- Monitor for insects and disease before treating.
- Use lower-risk products where treatment is necessary.
- Sweep fertilizer and granules off pavement.
- Provide notice before every application.
Questions to Ask
Asking your landscapers these questions can bring clarity and much-needed information.
- Do you offer an organic, reduced-chemical, or Integrated Pest Management plan?
- Which treatments are automatically included?
- Can I remove treatments I don’t want?
- Will you contact me before applying any product, and provide me with labels and safety information?
- Do you inspect and test the lawn before treating it?
- Can you spot-treat instead of spraying the entire lawn?
- Do you use neonicotinoids or pyrethroids?
- How do you prevent products from entering storm drains and waterways?
- How long must children and pets remain off the lawn?
- Will reducing chemical treatments lower the cost?
Warning Signs
Be cautious if your contract:
- Includes many treatments without explaining why they are needed.
- Uses phrases like “complete weed control” or “season-long protection.”
- Automatically includes preventive fungicides or insecticides.
- Allows the company to apply products without notifying you.
- Doesn’t identify the products or active ingredients.
- Promises a completely weed-free lawn.
- Renews automatically without allowing you time to make modifications.
Simple Language to Add to Your Contract
“Please do not apply any pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, or insecticide without my approval. Inspect the lawn first, explain the problem, and provide the product name and active ingredient. Utilize spot treatment whenever possible. Do not apply products before rain, during windy weather, or near storm drains and flowering plants.”
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