Comments on: Organic Gardening Mag Editor is High on Grass

By: susan harris

susan harris — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:41:31 +0000

Yes, DJ, I suggest you read everything on my website http://www.sustainable-gardening.com, especially the introductory articles about Low Maintenance Gardening, Sustainable Gardening, and Organic Gardening. One tip for here : the really important “products” are just some compost and mulch (maybe even making your own). This kind of gardening is perfect for the small of budget.

By: dg

dg — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:33:50 +0000

hello……..i haven’t used chemicals on my lawn for over 7 years……i think, now, tho, that it should be more closely attended to……there is quite a bit of crab grass around……….

along with the flower and shrub beds i wonder if you would give me any tips on the maintenance of my property…….wish i could afford going to the store and using their products….would you have home made tips on information of this sort…….thanks, for any help……dg

By: Andrew Semprebon

Andrew Semprebon — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:43:44 +0000

What amazes me is that most of these techniques aren’t new. I remember a talk one of my professor’s gave almost 30 years ago about leaving clippings on the lawn, reducing the size of lawns, etc. I’ve never used chemicals or weekly watering on my lawn, and it has survived just fine.

Unfortunately, I’ve found it very difficult to convince some people about this. They just go by the advice put out by the fertilizer companies. Even pamphlets from the Virginia Cooperative Extension didn’t help (they still push fertilizer, but at a lower rate than the chemical companies and based on a soil test).

By: Kathy J, Washington Gardener

Kathy J, Washington Gardener — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:59:40 +0000

Lawns serve a purpose and can be grown organically, but “easiest-to-maintain”?! C’mon. My fussiest flowers and shrubs don’t take 1/10 the weekly attention and watering that an expanse of lawn does.

By: Scott Meyer

Scott Meyer — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:29:39 +0000

Thanks for the shout-out, Susan. And please feel free to quote me whenever you get that look. Just don’t send an army of enraged Chem-Lawn poison pushers to my house.

Scott Meyer
Editor
Organic Gardening magazine
OrganicGardening.com

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:28:50 +0000

Robs advice from the left field of ethical gardening:
Organic lawns work!
Raise those mower blades – the thicker sward retains moisture, combats drought and out-competes many broad leaved weeds.
Never use chemicals!
I have moved back to using a push mower – electric mowers have encouraged people to have large lawns which then need to use energy to cut.
Cheers
Rob