America’s love relationship with the manicured lawn could use a thinking-over.  The biggest problem?  The seventy million pounds of pesticides applied annually to our lawns, making polluted runoff our largest source of water pollution.  What follows is a little food for thought.  Warning: read at your own risk – a manicured lawn may never have the same appeal again!

Lawns occupy over 25 million acres in the U.S., more than double the land used for cotton, a crop for which we are the world's leading exporter.  On those lawns, homeowners apply ten times more pesticides per acre than farmers.  When it rains, these lawn pesticides naturally wash into our waterways.   Forty percent of our water systems violated the Safe Drinking Water Act at least once last year and dozens of pesticides and other chemicals were detected at unsafe levels.   As a former EPA lawyer stated, “The public believes that the EPA has carefully reviewed all the chemicals that are used and has the authority it needs to deal with risks, but that’s often not the case".

The Case of Atrazine

Let’s just take one weed killer as an example of a larger problem.  Atrazine is a frequently-used herbicide on farms, lawns, golf courses, and Christmas tree farms.  In spring 2010, biologists confirmed the suspected – atrazine acts as a hormone and endocrine disruptor.  In the study, 75% of male frogs exposed to atrazine lost all their testosterone and sperm and atrazine caused 1 in 10 of these male frogs to turn into female frogs capable of laying eggs.  These male-turned-females mated with other male frogs and had offspring which were all male, thus leading to an evolutionary dead-end.   I will now think twice when my baby grabs a Christmas tree branch and puts it in her mouth!

Due to its widespread use, atrazine is the most common pesticide contaminant of ground and surface water. An estimated 33 million Americans have been exposed to atrazine through their taps.  Nevertheless, it has not been banned in the USA. The European Union banned atrazine in 2004 due to its high concentrations in drinking water sources.

As another example, Diazinon was the one of the top two garden pesticides used in the USA until 2004, when the EPA finally declared it unsafe as studies linked it to cancer, birth defects, and brain damage (interestingly, Diazinon is also used in nerve gas).  The jury is still out on many other lawn pesticides in common use, particularly with regard to their ‘inert’ ingredients.  In 2009, a study of Roundup’s so-called ‘inert’ ingredients found them to be more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than the herbicide itself, even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns.

Of the hundreds of pesticides currently in use, only 11 are monitored under the Safe Water Drinking Act.  Scientists have scrutinized thousands of chemicals and identified hundreds associated with cancer and other diseases at small concentrations in drinking water.  Even so, not one chemical has been added to the Act since 2000.   As a mother and a nurse, I can only wonder what effect these chemicals are having on my children as they reach for a glass of water.

The problems with lawns does not end there.  Where pesticides are used, upwards of 90% of earthworms – a critical component of soil health -- are killed.  Fertilizers used to boost grass yield spark algae blooms in our waterways, and America's 38 million gas-powered mowers and 26 million leaf blowers have a significant carbon footprint of their own.  Landscaping and lawn watering consumes 30% of all the municipal water used on the east coast.

Okay, So What is a Lawn Lover to Do?

Even so, some of us love the feeling of soft, plush grass underfoot. As a mom, I find a lawn a great place to kick a ball, have a picnic, and horseplay! Our grass, for the most part, is here to stay until my kids are a bit older. Here are some tips for a more balanced way of caring for our lawns, our health, and our planet.

Step #1: Cut Your Lawn -- In Half!

The best solution? Cut your grass coverage by half. Trees, shrubs, ground covers, flowers, and native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife, maintain healthy ecosystems, and lessen the time, money, and labor needed for lawn maintenance. Native plants typically require less fertilizer, water, and pest control than non-native plants. They’re important to native pollinators that have co-evolved with a particular plant species -- the pollinator using the flower as a food source and the flower using the pollinator for pollen transport and reproduction.  Non-native plants often upset this balance and out-compete natives to the point of extinction. And one thing I am learning -- tall grasses have great curbside appeal.  By shaping and contouring the edges of un-mowed grass, wildness becomes a beautiful landscaping tool.

Step #2: Feed the Lawn, Naturally

Due to quick-release chemical fertilizers, 65% of applied lawn fertilizer is lost to the air or runs off into streams and storm drains where it contributes to water pollution. And now, popular “weed and seed” products (fertilizer + herbicide) have resulted in pesticide applications over entire lawns rather than as spot treatments. Pesticide levels inside homes have been shown to be ten times higher after a lawn application than before due to tracking by people and pets, and the pesticides persist inside much longer than outside. These chemicals, linked to cancer and reproductive problems, present particular health risks to children.

If needed, fertilize your lawn once a year in the fall by raking in a slow-release, organic fertilizer as well as compost or grass clippings, and don’t do it before a heavy rain. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn, or ‘grass-cycling’, provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and water and reduces the fertilizer needed by one-half. If your lawn has had a chemical diet, help recovery with microbial inoculants which support helpful microbes and earthworms. Test your soil’s pH to determine if additives are needed, such as kelp extract or lime. Many Cabin Johners have clay-heavy soil which leads to compaction and prevents air and nutrient flow. Before adding soil improvements, rent an aerator to create air spaces in the soil.

Step #3: Control Thatch Build-Up

Thatch is the accumulation of old grass roots and stems and should be 1/2” deep on a healthy lawn. It is kept in balance by natural decomposition, earthworms and microbes. Excess thatch prevents water and nutrient absorption. To prevent build-up, avoid over-watering, over-fertilizing, and mowing with dull blades. You can reduce thatch with a steel rake.

Step #4: Mow High, Sharpen Blades

The "Marine” cut actually damages lawns by exposing surface roots and drying out soil. Set your mower to the highest setting. Most grass is healthiest at 3-4” height. High mowing has been found to control crabgrass better than herbicides. Before winter, cut the grass to 2” to prevent mold buildup. Keep mower blades sharp to avoid tearing the grass, which makes it disease-prone. Brown and ragged grass tips indicate dull blades.

Air pollution from one hour of mowing with a gas-powered mower is similar to a 100-mile car ride. The reel mower is sounding a whole lot more sensible!

Step #5: Water Deeply, Less Often

Thorough, occasional watering encourages deep roots which leads to hardier, drought-resistant lawns. Early morning watering prevents evaporation. Over-watering helps pathogens to thrive, so make sure your lawn dries out before re-watering. Most lawns require 1" of water per week, but take into consideration rainfall and soil type. Clay soil needs less water than sandy soil.

New drought-resistant grass blends require less water and little or no mowing. Consider switching your lawn to these low-maintenance blends. To do so, cut your existing lawn as short as possible and then over-seed.

Step #6: Read Your Weeds

If you don’t like the dandelions, dig them up! But also find out why they’re there. Dandelions can mean soil pH is too high. Clover can be a sign of nitrogen-deficiency. If needed, corn gluten can kill weeds. Spot apply early in spring for several years. Avoid re-seeding for two months post-application, as corn gluten prevents grass seed germination. A thick turf is one of the best ways to control weeds, so seed annually in early fall.

Old-Fashioned Poison Ivy Control

Poison ivy war veterans, get ready to don up! Coat yourself with Dawn dishwashing liquid (yes, really!) then suit up in long pants, long shirt, and gloves, with duct tape at the wrists and ankles. Pull up the poison ivy, roots and all, and drop it in a trash bag. Dispense everything into the trash – no burning. When done, run clothes through a hot wash cycle and take a shower, using Tecnu soap (Glen Echo Pharmacy stocks it).

If that sounds unappealing, try this concoction. Combine 1 cup salt with 1 gallon vinegar in a pot and heat to dissolve the salt. Cool and add 8 drops of liquid detergent. Spray on all parts of the plant, aiming at the base. Have good aim -- it kills indiscriminately!