Over on The Daily Green, organic-lawn-care crusader Paul Tukey has provided some great lawn care advice and made his case in a very readable, approachable way. (Maybe that’s why the American Hort Society named him Garden Communicator of the Year in ‘06.)
Now The Daily Green may call refer to Paul’s 21 points as "tips," but we know better – they’re waaay more substantive than that overused and dismissive word conveys. AND most of them link to full details on each point – a handy feature that’s one of the coolest things about writing online, among many cool things.
Here are the topics Paul covers. Each entry is nice and short for online audiences.
1. Testing the soil. Here I can’t resist saying that maybe most Extension Services do soil tests but not the ones in Maryland or DC, so the DC Urban Gardeners recommend the University of Massachusetts, which costs only $12 and I used it myself with good results.
2. "Grow the right grass." YES! With links to Seedland.com.
3. How to reduce watering, with a link to his longer piece about saving water.
4. "Think of your soil as alive" is a terrific statement of the difference between chemical treatments and organic maintenance, and wouldn’t we all prefer healthier plants that need less maintenance? With links to a host of videos.
5. "How to mow" includes ‘Don’t mow unless rain is in the forecast," which I’d never heard before. Added to the complexities of trying to mow often enough but not too often, and waiting for the grass to dry off after rains or dew, I’m sure glad I don’t mow anymore because having to factor in future rain would send me into spasms of gardener anxiety. Oy.
6. "Know your organic fertilizer" links to The Best Way to Fertilize Your Lawn.
7. "Fertilize your lawn with kitchen and yard waste" might add another smidgen of anxiety for me if it didn’t blessedly include other options, like getting compost from your city. It links to How to make and use compost.
8. Listen to Nature’s messages connects dandelions and plaintain to soil deficiencies and links to a cool book that’s out of print.
9. "Try a Kinder, Gentler Aprpoach to Pests" is wise and links to a pest ID site and where to buy good organic products.
10. "What do do about bare spots" urges people to do what almost nobody who takes care of their own lawn does – reseed bare patches as needed. I’ll add that overseeding thin lawns in the fall is something else that almost nobody does, but should.
11. Paul’s suggestions for other solutions where lawns don’t do well includes a link to the groundcover company JeepersCreepers, which I’ll be exploring.
12. "Invite clover, Mother Nature’s fertilizer factory" is music to my ears and links to Six Reasons that Clovers is NOt a Weed. We have 50 years of clover-bashing to counter, but it’s time we start trying.
13. Is a sober warning about using products on our lawns that over the long term are toxic to children. Really, is a perfect-looking lawn is worth risking our kids? Sheesh.
14. This item gives the good news about moves in Canada and even in the US to ban lawn pesticides, and links to What we can learn from Canada and Connecticut.
15. "Get your town to just say no" tells the story of a small town in Massachusetts that took action and encourages us to follow their lead.
16. Interesting item about lawns and their connection with games, including links to some surprising info about lawn games.
17. This one covers the benefits of aerating our lawns, but the good news that if you maintain it organically, you’ll never have to!
18. A brief introduction to grass clippings versus thatch includes more good news – that you won’t have to worry about thatch if you maintain your lawn organically.
19. This "tip" covers acidic soils and the addition of lime and the best way to do it. Again soil tests are key and this time there’s a link to a soil-tester.
20. Is the good news that a golf course CAN be managed organically, like this one on Martha’s Vineyard.
21. Finally, a little about seed versus sod, and a link for sod.
Thanks a bunch, Paul, and keep up the good work!
Identification of plants in the collage coming soon.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Here are some sensible lawncare videos we did (pre-YouTube) including one on seeding bare spots: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gardening/homegardening/scene1799.html
In an honest effort to solve the energy crisis, and keep the nukes at bay, all lawns in “America must be planted to potatoes. we will collectively convert the potato surplus to Vodka, then run our SUV’s on it, not fearing the rising price of corn or other wold- changing effects. In the case of surplus, it will be donated to lawn-owners for “Potato Week” a week of drunken revelry as never before! and America will be healed and the world!
Point 13 from the list is what got Paul Tukey going on the thought of safe lawns. There are many reasons not to spread chemicals around and our kids should be on top of the list. As a parent too familiar with autism, I know that how we have used chemicals over the years is a great concern.
This time of year I notice lots of commercials suggesting that we spread lawn chemcials to get rid of all sorts of insects. Last week I noticed an ad for Japanese beetle traps next to an ad for grub control guaranteed to get rid of the same beetles that the traps lure in from afar. The conflict is amazing an neither solution, traps nor chemicals, is something we should consider. I have had good success with milky spore for the Japanese beetles and just wish we could see more research on solutions which would solve problems without making bigger ones. It’s good to see and hear so many people are involved in this critical concern. If you have a chance to meet Paul, it is a very positive experience!
George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
I am a new reader & very happy to have found your site. We have always lived in Tx & now find ourselves in St Michael, Md (Eastern Shore of Md). We love it here & are eager to know what works best in this area. My question is how often is the blog updated? I wanted to make sure that I didn’t miss anything. You have very helpful information for newcomers.
Thanks
I’m glad that folks are starting to think about things to do to make their lawns sustainable.
Of course, I had to laugh at #5: Don’t mow unless rain is in the forecast. In California, that might be October, who knows, but probably November… Maybe we shouldn’t have lawns here. What a radical thought.
these are awesome tips, I’m glad to have these in my arsenal. Organic baby!