Comments on: Eco-friendly lawn care – no fertilizer needed? http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743 Susan Harris's blog about eco-friendly and urban gardening, plus the adventures of a DC-based garden writer, coach and occasional rabble-rowser. Mon, 24 May 2010 11:12:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Frederick http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743/comment-page-1#comment-5000 John Frederick Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:28:52 +0000 http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=1743#comment-5000 I have a yard with some grass, dandelions, clover, mint and some other green stuff that looks just fine enough to play croquet on. I mow it fairly high. There is a farm across the river from me that has bees and the clover needs to be mown before those grandkids show up or there will be a lot of wailing and screaming. Which can sometimes happen anyway. I have a yard with some grass, dandelions, clover, mint and some other green stuff that looks just fine enough to play croquet on. I mow it fairly high. There is a farm across the river from me that has bees and the clover needs to be mown before those grandkids show up or there will be a lot of wailing and screaming. Which can sometimes happen anyway.

]]> By: susan harris http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743/comment-page-1#comment-4959 susan harris Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:30:56 +0000 http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=1743#comment-4959 I think this New York Times writer got it right, for most situations: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/garden/02GreenHome.html?_r=1&ref=earth He recommends, instead of fertilizer products per se, the application of compost, and introduction of clover. I think this New York Times writer got it right, for most situations:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/garden/02GreenHome.html?_r=1&ref=earth
He recommends, instead of fertilizer products per se, the application of compost, and introduction of clover.

]]> By: Heather http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743/comment-page-1#comment-4952 Heather Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:00:45 +0000 http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=1743#comment-4952 If you don't know about this already, its a great resource for people who want to have a reasonable size and healthy lawn: http://www.safelawns.org/ Paul Tukey also created an organic section of lawn on the National Mall and has a book published about growing lawns organically. If you don’t know about this already, its a great resource for people who want to have a reasonable size and healthy lawn: http://www.safelawns.org/
Paul Tukey also created an organic section of lawn on the National Mall and has a book published about growing lawns organically.

]]> By: invisiblebees http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743/comment-page-1#comment-4948 invisiblebees Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:34:24 +0000 http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=1743#comment-4948 We have a lot of ground to cover, so to speak, in terms of welcoming clover (and perhaps a few dandelions) back into our lawns. ...Maybe it's that word, "lawn" -- inextricably connected to status and class -- that's the trouble. Can we start referring to it as the yard again -- would that make a difference? I'm totally with you on clover. And, as the ever enchanting Billy Goodnick suggests, lawn is so yawn. Why not mix it up au natural? (Oh, right. HOAs.) We have a lot of ground to cover, so to speak, in terms of welcoming clover (and perhaps a few dandelions) back into our lawns. …Maybe it’s that word, “lawn” — inextricably connected to status and class — that’s the trouble. Can we start referring to it as the yard again — would that make a difference?

I’m totally with you on clover. And, as the ever enchanting Billy Goodnick suggests, lawn is so yawn. Why not mix it up au natural? (Oh, right. HOAs.)

]]> By: ride on lawnmower http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743/comment-page-1#comment-4946 ride on lawnmower Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:15:41 +0000 http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=1743#comment-4946 My lawn is in a sad state of repair at the moment, I think I need to take your advice and put it into practice My lawn is in a sad state of repair at the moment, I think I need to take your advice and put it into practice

]]> By: Billy Goodnick http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/1743/comment-page-1#comment-4944 Billy Goodnick Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:09:27 +0000 http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=1743#comment-4944 Longer blades is definitely superior, as it not only shades out sprouting weed seed but also shades the surface soil to slow the surface evaporation. As for fertilizer, a lot has to do with the inherent fertility of the soil below. If you have a low-nutrient, sandy soil, of course you'll need more fertilizer if you ascribe to that Scott lawn mystique. Personally, I can't imagine a more boring garden feature than an uninterrupted expanse of even colored green. Forget about the environmental cost. Boooooooring. At least mix it up with a variety of native bunch grasses and sedges, some naturalized bulbs and a sprinkling of yarrow. Longer blades is definitely superior, as it not only shades out sprouting weed seed but also shades the surface soil to slow the surface evaporation. As for fertilizer, a lot has to do with the inherent fertility of the soil below. If you have a low-nutrient, sandy soil, of course you’ll need more fertilizer if you ascribe to that Scott lawn mystique. Personally, I can’t imagine a more boring garden feature than an uninterrupted expanse of even colored green. Forget about the environmental cost. Boooooooring. At least mix it up with a variety of native bunch grasses and sedges, some naturalized bulbs and a sprinkling of yarrow.

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