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Canadian Environmental Network
Manitoba Eco-Network gratefully acknowledges the support of Manitoba Conservation
Organic Lawn Care Project
The Manitoba Eco-Network (MEN), in conjunction with Campaign for Pesticide Reduction! Winnipeg and Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba, created an Organic Lawn Care educational workshop, in order to provide information on the benefits of Organic Lawn Care.
The mission of this project is to educate people on how to have beautiful lawns, and healthy green spaces without the use of harmful chemicals.
Table Of Contents:
2) Workshops Dates and Locations
3) Organic lawn care tips and local resources for Winnipeg
Support For This Project Has Been Received From:
Workshop Dates:
The Manitoba Eco-Network is pleased to offer free organic lawn care workshops to show you how to effectively maintain a beautiful lawn without using any harmful chemicals. Workshop topics include: a brief overview of current pesticide use and the human/environmental impacts, specific organic lawn care techniques and practices, and some alternatives to lawns.
Upcoming workshops:
Register online using this form:
Organic Lawn Care Tips and Local Resources:
A PDF version of these tips and resources is available here.Articles:
What Bugs Us: Safe and Organic Ways to Deal with Pests in the Garden
Rockwood Agribusiness - A Local Source for Compost
The general principle behind organic lawn care is to take a preventative approach. That is, take care of the lawn naturally, and give it the strength to out-compete weeds. To get the full story of organic lawn care, please consider attending one of our free workshops. To get you started, here are some tips:
Fertilize Naturally
The guiding principle of organic lawn care is to nourish the soil. In this way, it differs fundamentally from chemical lawn care, which focuses on feeding the grass. Nourish your soil with natural and organic products such as finished compost (from your own backyard compost heap), well-aged manure, grass clippings and/or slow-release organic fertilizers. Grass clippings and compost can be applied in small amounts throughout the growing season but slow-release organic fertilizers are best applied in late summer - early fall. An early spring application is also acceptable. Unlike quick-release chemical fertilizers, these natural and organic products will not burn grass or contaminate ground and surface water. One fertilizer we recommend is Turkey Trot, which is available form T & T seeds in Winnipeg, and most other garden centers.
Topdress with Compost
Nourish your soil by sprinkling screened, finished compost over your lawn. Finished compost has an earthy odour, spongy texture and rich-brown colour. It contributes a wide range of both macro and micro nutrients, which are released slowly over a long period of time. It also contributes micro organisms, which help decompose thatch and other organic matter. For more information on composting try Resource Conservation Manitoba's compost infoline @ 925-3777.
Compost should be screened before being applied to the lawn. (Photo courtesy of Resource Conservation Manitoba.)
Test your soil
You may wish to have your soil tested once every few years to determine if it lacks any nutrients. A test kit can be bought from most garden centers, or you can send a sample of you soil to get tested professionally. They will give you a full report of the Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium levels, as well as the pH level of the soil. The report will also tell you how to remedy any deficiencies there may be in the soil. Look in the Winnipeg Yellow Pages under "Soil Testing".
Aerate
Aeration relieves compaction and cultivates the soil. It is best done in the spring or fall prior to fertilization. Aeration increases air and water penetration and movement in the soil. You can ensure continual, natural and free aeration by attracting and protecting earthworms in your soil. Aeration is especially important in Manitoba, as our clay-based soil tends to get compacted easily, and a compacted lawn is more prone to weed infestations. If you can't stick a pencil into your lawn, it's too compacted and needs to be aerated.
The best way to aerate is to use a plug-removing machine, or "core aerator". These machine remove small plugs of soil and leave them on top of the lawn to decompose.
Overseed
Your lawn is comprised of millions of individual grass plants. Like any other living thing, these plants eventually die. It is important to overseed once every year to keep your lawn thick and healthy. A dense lawn will crowd out weeds like dandelions and crabgrass that crop up in bare or thinly covered patches. Choose grass varieties that suit the light, moisture and soil conditions of your yard. Overseeding is also a great way to introduce hardy, pest-resistant and low-maintenance grass varieties such as endophytic perennial ryes and fine fescues into your lawn. A lawn with diverse grass types is better able to deal with and recover from stresses such as droughts, pest outbreaks, diseases and traffic. It is best to overseed in the early fall, although early spring aerating is also acceptable.
Mow High
Mowing is one of the most important aspects of organic lawn care. The simple practice of mowing high contributes enormously to the health of a lawn. Experts recommend at least 3 inches because it shades out sun-loving weeds and encourages good root development. Taller turf also shades the soil more than shorter turf thereby helping to keep soil cool and moist. In addition, a longer lawn has a greater ability to collect nutrients form the sun, thereby improving the overall health of the grass.
The One-Third Rule
A general rule is to never cut off more than one third of the blade at once. Cutting off more than one third of the blade may cause the grass plant to go into shock as a huge portion of its food factory is eliminated. It will also result in longer clippings that take longer to decompose and may suffocate some grass plants. If grass is overgrown, mow twice; first at a high setting and then at a lower one.
Recycle your Clippings
Instead of collecting and putting clippings out for garbage, leave them on your lawn. Grass clippings are the perfect fertilizer for lawns. They are free, convenient, chock full of nutrients and organic matter and able to boost soil fertility by up to 30 per cent. They also return moisture to your soil and shade it from the drying rays of the sun.
Sharpen your Blade Once a Year
Another way to ensure your grass remains healthy and strong is to cut it with a sharp blade. Dull blades tear and stress grass blades, thereby increasing the potential for disease and infestations. Sharp blades cut cleaner and easier and leave your lawn healthier and better looking. Again, many places throughout the city offer blade sharpening, look in the Yellow Pages under "Lawn Mowers - Sales and Service".
Water Wisely
Experts agree that a lawn requires no more than one inch of water a week. Sometimes, rain will provide your lawn with all the water it requires. At other times, irrigation is required. As a general rule, water deeply once a week during the early morning. Watering during the late evening is not recommended because cooler temperatures and sitting water invite disease. Watering deeply will encourage deep root growth, which will make the grass heartier and more drought tolerant.
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal (CGM) is a byproduct of the wet milling process and is typically used as a protein supplement in hog feed. However, it also can be used as a pre-emergent herbicide, which inhibits root formation during germination. It controls crab grass, barnyard grass, foxtails, dandelion, lambs quarter, pigweed, purslane, and smartweed. It is safe for use on established turf. Do not use CGM in an area in which you are trying to establish turf grass. It contains 10% nitrogen by weight, thus making it an ideal "weed and feed" product. On grass, CGM is often applied at 20 lbs / 1000 sq ft; in garden situations, the rate may vary from 20 to 60 lbs / 1000 sq ft. In order to be effective, it can only be applied as soon as the snow melts in early spring. In Winnipeg, CGM can be purchased at FeedRite, 17 Speers Road, 233-8418, or any other feed mill. The cost is $25.00 for a 15 kg bag and it comes in the form of a fine, yellow powder.
The use of Corn Gluten Meal as a herbicide was discovered by Dr. Nick Christians at Iowa State University. For more information, see: www.gluten.iastate.edu
Less Lawn!
More and more people are choosing to reduce the amount of lawn space on their property or have decided to eliminate their lawns altogether. Doing so will reduce your water consumption and decrease the amount of energy and resources going into lawn maintenance. Some alternatives include: Vegetable Gardens, Rock Gardens, Trees and Shrubs. For a good overview of lawn alternatives see: http://eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_alternatives.htm. Also see the book: How to get your lawn off grass by Carole Rubin, Harbour Publishing, 2002 ISBN # 1-55017-259-X. This book is available from the Manitoba Eco-Network library!
When planting, consider using native species. They've adapted to our climate naturally, need very little maintenance and virtually no water. Be sure to use species that are native to your specific bioregion. There is a local nursery that specializes native species: Prairie Originals, 27 Bunns Road Box 25, Grp. 310, RR 3 Selkirk, Manitoba R1A 2A8 Phone/Fax (204) 785-9799 Toll Free 1-866-296-0928, http://www.prairieoriginals.com, Email: prairieoriginals@mts.net. You can also visit the Living Prairie Museum, 2795 Ness Ave. 832-0167 for more ideas.
Here are some examples of Winnipeg properties with "alternative lawns":
Resources And References:
Websites:
The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) is strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible after releasing a comprehensive review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health in April 2004. For more information, including a downloadable version of the review, see: http://www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Communications/CurrentIssues/Pesticides/default.asp?s=1
Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has published four brochures on lawn care. They're available for download from the PMRA website, which also contains links to other resources: http://www.healthylawns.net/english/homelawns/homelawns-e.html
The Sierra Club of Canada has a very good page devoted to pesticide reduction. It contains information on common pesticides used on lawns and gardens, reasons to avoid them as well as practical alternatives.
Pesticide Reduction is Possible! is a project of the World Wildlife Fund of Canada. This site contains not only information about pesticides and pesticide reduction, but also recommendations on actions you can take to reduce pesticide use in your community and nationally.
www.organiclawncaretips.com A U.S. site with many helpful hints and tips for Organic Lawn Care.
Books:
How to get your lawn and garden off drugs (2nd ed.)
by Carole Rubin, Harbour Publishing, 2003
ISBN # 1895099846
Available from the Manitoba Eco-Network library!
Building a Healthy Lawn : A Safe and Natural Approach
by Stuart Franklin, Jeff Silva (Designer), Deborah Burns (Editor)
Paperback - 176 pages 1st Ed. edition (October 1988) Storey Books; ISBN: 0882665189
Common-Sense Pest Control: Least Toxic Solutions for your Home, Garden, Pets and Community
by William Olkowski, Sheila Daar, and Helga Olkowski, The Taunton Press, 1991
Down-To-Earth Natural Lawn Care
by Dick Raymond, Ben Watson (Editor)
Paperback - 154 pages (February 1993) Storey Books; ISBN: 0882668102
Handbook of Successful Ecological Lawn Care
by Paul D. Sachs
Paperback - 290 Pages, The Edaphic Press, 1996; ISBN: 0963605313
P.O.Box 107, Newbury, Vermont 05051 bus (802) 222-4277; fax (802) 222-9661
Natural Pest Control; Alternatives to Chemicals for the Home and Garden
by Andrew Lopez
Paperback; 2nd edition (1998) Chelsea Green Publishing Company; ISBN: 0962976849
Ortho's All About Lawns (Ortho's All About)
by Warren Schultz, Ortho (Editor), Marilyn Rogers;
Paperback; 96 pages 1 Ed edition; (January 1999) Ortho Books; ISBN: 0897214218
Pelouses: Couvre-Sols Et Alternatives
By Édith Smeesters
Hardcover; 240 Pages; Published in 2000 by Broquet; ISBN: 2890004953
Redesigning the American Lawn: A Search for Environmental Harmony
by F. Herbert Bormann, Diana Balmori, Gordon T. Geballe
Paperback; (1995); Yale University Press; ISBN 0300061978
Safe & Easy Lawn Care: The Complete Guide to Organic, Low-Maintenance Lawns (Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guides)
by Barbara Ellis (Editor), Frances Tenenbaum (Editor)
Paperback (February 1997) Houghton Mifflin Co (Pap); ISBN: 0395813697
The Chemical-Free Lawn : The Newest Varieties and Techniques to Grow Lush, Hardy Grass
by Warren Schultz
Paperback - 194 pages (March 1989) Rodale Press, Incorporated; ISBN: 0878578013
The Landscaping Revolution: Garden with Mother Nature, Not Against Her
by Andy Wasowski & Sally Wasowski
Hardcover; 176 Pages; Published in 2000 by Contemporary; ISBN 0809226650
The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect & Disease Control: A Complete, Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden & Yard Healthy Without Chemicals
by Barbara W. Ellis, Fern M. Bradley
Paperback; (1996); Rodale Press, Incorporated; ISBN 0875967531
Weeds, Control Without Poisons
by Charles Walters
Paperback - 352 pages 3rd edition (1999); Acres USA; ISBN: 0911311254
Golf Course Management & Construction : Environmental Issues
by James C. Balogh (Editor), William J. Walker (Editor)
Hardcover (June 1992) CRC Press - Lewis Publishers; ISBN: 0873717422
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