A Great Article by Suzanne Thompson in TheDay.com
Suzanne Thompson
Times Writer
E-Mail: Suzanne Thompson
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It’s
been a long time since I’ve broken off a relationship. Sure enough, I
fell back on the old “It’s not you, it’s me” line. But this time, it
really is. I’ve known for too long it was time to move on, go my own
way.
I broke up with my lawn dude – the one who has been keeping my lawn
lush and the dandelions at bay for the past few years. He’s a nice,
college-educated guy, went to UCONN College of Agriculture. But like
most relationships, one of us grew and the other didn’t.
I’ve decided 2008 is the year for me to really go organic with my
lawn. I confess, the only way I felt I could get my “builder’s
special” lawn – the usual Kentucky Blue-grass, red fescue, perennial
rye mix that came with the house – established on lousy, mostly clay
soil, with no shade, was through the standard “weed and feed” regimen.
So, a neighbor fixed me up with the licensed applicator and we agreed
to the usual four fertilizer applications a year and a little
pre-emergent herbicide to control the broadleaves, or anything that
wasn’t grass.
At first, things seemed fine. Or, at least I got what I asked for, whether it really was best in the long run.
I finally had to admit that his needs were being met more than
mine. He reliably showed up and applied synthetic fertilizer pellets,
whether I wanted him to or not, justifying that at least it was
slow-release. He kept wanting to do it, regardless of whether my yard
and I were in the mood or even needed anything. I should have
questioned why he never once suggested a soil test to see what my
nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium (N, P & K) needs might be before
he spread around any more of the stuff.
The yard greened up nicely in the spring. But it didn’t sustain
itself through the summer, especially when I didn’t religiously water
it. Yet it always rallied in response to an early fall shot of
fertilizer. But the whole experience left me unfulfilled, not feeling
good about my choices or what it cost.
So, I started holding out. I cancelled the end-the-year and
first-of-the year treatments, rationalizing that at least I was taxing
the rest of the environment less, sending less runoff into the Long
Island Sound.
Finally, I got up the courage to call the whole thing off. Lord
knows, there are plenty of other choices out there. The Northeast
Organic Farming Association (NOFA) has been around for years, espousing
organic lawn care that is based on a natural fertilizers and composting
that feed the soil instead of the grass. See them at www.organiclandcare.net
Last spring, Paul Tukey, the editor of People, Places Plants magazine and founder of www.safelawns.org
launched a three pronged campaign that promises to fundamentally change
the way American turf care and grounds maintenance are done. He has
started an organic lawn demonstration plot on none other than
“America’s Front Yard,” the National Mall in Washington, DC. Perhaps
you heard him speak on a swing through Connecticut or on my CT Outdoors
radio show last summer.
Safelawns has since gone further, launching franchises for lawn care
companies, teaming up with Connecticut organic lawn care expert Todd
Harrington, creator of SafeTea™ liquid biological amendment, to offer
natural and organic lawn care products, services and know-how.
The problem, though, is that most of us don’t like change. Even if
we sense something is sort of broken, why change the status quo?
Otherwise, why would so many Americans be overweight – and not exactly
happy with it – or worse, chronically obese and suffering the medical
consequences?
As an old boyfriend used to say, “You can get used to anything, even
that rock in your shoe.” No, he’s not the one I married. But I have
had to admit there is some truth in that annoying statement.
“It won’t be the same, you’re going to have to do things
differently, you know,” my soon-to-be-ex-lawn dude told me. “You’re not
going to be as happy as with what I’ve given you these past years.”
He raised the specter of needing to plant new varieties of grass,
ones that thrive on less fertilizer and that are hopefully more
drought-tolerant. And that’s a bad thing?
Those applications of composted materials might look a bit scruffy,
he said, and it’s really more convenient (for him) to sprinkle granules
than apply liquid compost tea solutions. Frankly, I’m invigorated by
the prospects of trying something new.
And then, the clincher – sure, I may feel good about leaving him
now, but it is going to be a long, lonely, uncertain three years before
my lawn and I will be back in the thick of things. We’ll see about
that.
I genuinely feel sorry for the guy and his situation. I won’t even
go into the “You do chemicals and I don’t want to any more” scenario.
Petroleum is the feedstock for synthetic fertilizers. So, in
addition to it costing more for him to run the mower, the price he pays
for fertilizer has almost doubled. Sure, he can pass along some of
that increased cost. But I get the distinct feeling I’m not the only
one dropping him this spring. He’s got to be getting about as lonely
as the Maytag repairman.
So, forging ahead, I’m off to the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show
this Thursday through Sunday in Hartford. I’ll be clutching my
precious little plastic container of yard soil and I’ll head straight
over to the University of Connecticut Soil Testing Laboratory’s display
to take them up on the free soil pH testing. Anyone can bring in ½ cup
of soil, UCONN says, and they will test it and let you know how much,
if any, limestone you need to add for optimal plant growth.
While you’re at it, ask the Master Gardeners and staff
horticulturists from the UCONN Home and Garden Education Center how to
get an analysis done for N, P and K and help yourself to the free
gardening handouts to make the most of your lawn and gardens this
year.
I know I plan to have a good year in my yard.
