Schumacher_AmericanLandscaping_2005 001

American Landscaping:
Comparing the Impacts of Chemicals
Versus Organics on Human Health and
Soils
Senior Thesis
Written by: Mr. JacobY. Schumacher
March of 2005
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements:
Page 1
Abstract:
Page 2-3
Introduction:
Page 4-13
Literary Review:
Page 14-18
Methods:
Page 19
Results:
Page 20-24
Discussion:
Page 25-26
References:
Page 27-28
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-AcknowledgementsI would like to thank my father for all of his help throughout my college career and his
support in finding the information that I needed to help complete my senior thesis.
Thanks to my mother and stepfather for always believing in me and always supporting
me both financially and educationally.
Thanks to Pro. Joy Mast, Pro. Julio Rivera, and the rest of the geography department for
giving me all of the help I could ever need to get through my college career, and also for
helping me in finding the interest in finishing my senior thesis and college career.
-AbstractLandscaping of the soil takes on multiple forms and shapes throughout the
countries on earth, and since the beginning of society and the development of
architecture, many have tried to find the perfect design for their perfect lawn. There are
multiple people that try and take the earths shape into their own hands and mold their
own pieces of the land. Some have tried with the normal and dull, chemically infested,
green lawn concept. While others have gone out on a limb and introduced a new concept,
where less is more in a lawn. An idea of wild growth and multiple flowers/shrubs was
introduced. The lawn must be both visually and politically correct and pleasing; this
concept is hard to accomplish while having both goals fulfilled. But with the great pursuit
of this concept that green is better, comes the most devastating aspect, "chemicals." A
mass amount of chemicals have an unnatural effect on human behavior and human
health. With this ability to change the soil and add unnatural compounds, the knowledge
of what we are doing to the earth and to the soils must not be over looked. People must
tum their love affair with the lawn into a healthy and safe love affair.
Every year Americans spend more than 750 million dollars on grass seed, do-ityourselflawn, and garden care (Scott, 2004). Making the lawn and landscaping industry
one of the highest grossing industries in America. And even though the great American
lawn, a coast to coast carpet of green, inspires six billion dollars in annual spending, the
lawn care companies are doing one and half billion dollars ofbusiness a year. The United
States applies between 50 and 80 million pounds of toxic chemicals in the process (Scott,
2004). This is why the purpose of this research paper is for Americans to take a further
investigation into more adequate landscaping techniques and practices, in order to
..
prevent further damage to soils, grasses, animals and most importantly, humans. These
results will be viewed through two very detailed and narrowed studies on how we can see
the changes that are being made to the earth.
-IntroductionBefore going into the study areas that will be researched and studied. The concept
or idea of what makes up natural soils must be displayed. This will make it easier to
explain what is happening to the soil when foreign chemicals are being added to and
destroying some of the natural aspects.
*Graph made possible by www.physicalgeography.net
Mineral
Particles 45°/o
Org a n ism s
1 0 °/o
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After that quick lesson on soil make up, now onto the study areas. The first study
area is a chemically induced lawn, a lawn that has been altered in many chemical ways. It
is a piece of soil that has been put under a burden of chemicals ranging from pesticides
and insecticides to herbicides, both nonselective and selective. It is a spread ofheavily
sprayed chemicals on the soil and grasses. In this study area, chemicals will be easily
viewed in both a positive and negative way. The chemicals will lend us the information
needed to come to a conclusion on whether or not they are harmful to soils, grasses,
animals and humans.
The second study area will be an untouched spread of land that has not been
sprayed by the hands of humans. It will be all organic with no chemicals or foreign
materials added to the soil as if to enhance any form of nature. This piece of land must be
organic in order to compare the results from this study with the results of the chemical
lawn. In this study area, the same type of comparisons will be taken as tests, trying to find
out if there is any harmful side affects to grasses, soils, animals, and humans with an
organic piece of soil.
Landscaping and lawn care are big businesses in the United States. It has been
estimated that there are 25 to 30 million acres of turf and lawn in the United States
(P.L.C.A.A, 1999). To put this statistic in perspective, consider that if lawns were
classified as a crop, they would rank as the fifth largest in the country on the basis of
area, after com, soybeans, wheat, and hay. In terms of fertilizer input, nutrients are
applied to lawns at about the same application rates as those for row crops. The urban
lawn is estimated to receive an annual input of five to seven pounds of pesticides per acre
(Rudd, 1990). Unlike farmers, suburban and rural landowners are often ignorant of the
actual nutrient needs of their lawns. According to surveys, only 10-20% oflawn owners
take the trouble to take soil tests to determine whether fertilization is even needed (Rudd,
1990). The majority of lawn owners are not aware of the content of fertilizers that they
apply or that mulching grass clippings into lawns can reduce or eliminate the need to
fertilize . Informing residents and lawn care professionals on methods to reduce fertilizer
and pesticide application, limit water use, and avoid land disturbance can help alleviate
the potential impacts of a major contributor of non point source pollution in residential
communities (Schultz, 1989). Furthermore lawn care and landscaping are done in all
parts of the country, in all types of climates, and in every type of community from rural
to urban. Lawn fertilization is among the most widespread watershed practices that
homeowners engage in. In a survey of resident attitudes, 89% of residents owned a yard,
and of these, 50% applied fertilizer every year (Schultz, 1989) It is because of these
numbers and multiple others that it is important to us as a nation to learn more about what
we are doing to our soils. Once again, this is why this study will show that it is in fact a
lot easier and safer to our soils if people would learn about the harmful affects of
chemicals, and try to change the way our lawns are treated.
With this background on how much Americans do not know about what they are
doing, I hypothesis that the use of chemicals create an unwanted damage to human
health. Not only do these chemicals hurt the soils, but they hurt what is most important,
human health. The worst part about all of this is, it is understandable why some
Americans do not know what they are putting on their own lawns. Many applicators are
just as conniving and deceitful as the product, using statements like "absolutely cannot
harm children or pets" and "perfectly safe for the environment" to mislead our fellow
Americans. Some companies have even made claims that their products better the
environment. "Funk" lawn care of New York has coined the phrase "Growing a Better
Environment" in order to fool consumers into believing lawn chemicals pose no
ecological harm. Another company states "a 50 by 50 foot lawn will produce enough
oxygen to sustain a family of four." But this is only true with a plot ofland that has tall
grass and no lawn care. Pesticides, lawnmower fumes and common lawn care practices
actually create a net destruction of oxygen (Wirzba, 2004).
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Most people seriously overestimate the amount of protection given to them by
the governments regarding pesticide safety. Congress found that 90% of the pesticides on
the market lack even minimal required safety screening (Wirzba, 2004). Of the 34 most
used lawn pesticides, 33 have not been fully tested for human health hazards (Lawn Care,
1997). If any tests are done, they are performed by the chemical manufacturers, not the
EPA. "If a chemical company wanted to, they could start with a desired conclusion, and
skew the data, and the EPA would never know," notes David Welch, an entomologist
with the EPA's Office ofPesticide Programs. Welch did a random sampling on 15
pesticides files and found 13 without proper reviews (Lawn Care, 1997). One third of the
most commonly used lawn pesticides were illegally registered for use. Despite the fact
executives oflndustrial Bio-Test labs were given jail terms for faking pesticide tests, the
interference from business has slowed re-evaluation of these chemicals (Raver, 1994).
Even when the EPA does refuse a pesticide registration, the manufacturer often files a
lawsuit, which keeps the chemical on the market (Lawn Care, 1997). The chemical
industry is extremely powerful, and wraps the EPA in red tape. It is also essential to
understand that by law pesticide registration in the United States is not a consumer safety
program. According to Congress, the EPA does not have testing and assessment
guidelines specifically for lawn use (Raver, 1994) EPA has admitted in court that
pesticide registration does not ensure product safety. Rather, it is a balancing act of costs
and risks. Most lawn pesticides were registered before 1972, when more stringent
restrictions took effect under the revised Federal Rodenticide and Fungicide Act. They
were never tested for many human health hazards like carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and
environmental dangers. Most, as previously stated, have yet to be re-evaluated, yet
remain on the market.
People believing that a company will tell them the truth is pretty crazy, but being
ignorant to what is going on is even worse. Most do it yourselfers are just as ignorant
when it comes to proper protection and safety precautions. Studies shows most do not
even look at the warnings on their toxins. They do not wear gloves, goggles, or protective
clothing to decrease exposure. Worse, many do not keep people off the contaminated area
after chemicals are applied. Homeowners commonly use up to ten times as much
pesticides per acre as farmers (Begley, 1988). Pesticides drift and settle during
application. Pesticides engulf the home and are easily tracked inside, readily inhaled and
absorbed through the skin. They do harm by attacking the central nervous system and
other essential organs. The worst thing about all of this is that except for industrial
accidents, tests for pesticide poisoning are rarely performed, partially because they are
expenstve.
Human health is very important to everyone, but the main reason for my research
on this topic is that I have always had an interest in what people are doing to the earth.
That is the main focus of any geographer. The other reason for my interest in this topic is
that pesticides, herbicides and insecticides caused an illness that my father contracted,
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Many Americans, more and more every day, are
developing MCS, a bizarre and extremely disabling condition. In 1979 the Surgeon
General issued a report stating "There is virtually no major chronic disease to which
environmental factors do not contribute, directly or indirectly." (Davidson, 1994) Indeed,
people today are exposed to synthetic chemicals at levels unmatched at any time
throughout human history. But MCS is a result of the destruction of the body's ability to
tolerate and synthesize chemicals after exposure to toxic substances. Victims develop
extreme reactions not only to lawn pesticides but also hair sprays, perfumes, soaps,
formaldehyde, and many other common household products. Many victims include
former lawn pesticides applicators and users, their families, and children of all ages.
These children and humans that are being poisoned are only being poisoned for the price
of a green lawn. I hope this is not just disturbing to me, but also to everyone who uses
lawn chemicals.
Not only are your children susceptible to these harmful chemicals but people must
understand that their children' s lives before they are even born are susceptible to these
lawn chemicals. Low dose exposure to lawn care pesticides may cause injury to
developing embryos before pregnancy is even noticed (Bradley, 2004). Marshfield Clinic
Research Foundation, MCF, conducted a study because little is known about the
residential use of pesticides and their possible effects on embryonic development during
the first couple days of pregnancy. Not only does the research limit itself to just
pesticides but the study was open to any type of chemical that may be applied to your
lawn such as herbicides or weed killers, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers. The
chemicals that the research facility looked at are those that people typically use in the
upper Midwest. The results were that within months of experiencing a low dose of the
chemicals adverse reproductive outcomes happen including spontaneous abortion, birth
defects and parental risk of infertility. The types of injuries that happen to the embryo in
the first couple of days include, slowed embryonic development and reductions in the
number of cells comprising the embryo, both of which may contribute to implantation
failures and lengthening the time needed to achieve pregnancy (Bradley, 2004).
With this newly acquired knowledge about the vast harm that chemicals can have
on human health, including children and embryos, my next hypothesis is that lawn
chemicals are endangering our lawns and the organisms that inhabit the soils. Chemicals
add salt to the soil and kill beneficial nitrogen-fixing microorganisms that provide
necessary nutrients for grass, turning a lawn into a junkie (Singer, 1996). Each quick fix
of chemicals creates dependence for the next. Synthetic fertilizers kill earthworms and
other organisms that aerate soil, causing it to compact and kill grass plants. Inorganic
nitrogen-based fertilizers also promote the sprouting of weeds (Boldan, 2001 ).
Compounds in chemical fertilizers also acidify the soil and aid in breeding of some
insects. Lawns need a soil pH between 5.6 and 7 or else they tum pale and thin out.
Additional doses of chemicals will only make matters worse (Singer, 1996).
Recycling grass clippings saves money, reduces waste, and according to Lawn Institute
Director, Eliot C. Roberts, is equivalent to three applications of fertilizer a year without
unhealthy chemicals and their side effects. Natural fertilizers are also better because they
are time released, allowing grass to grow slower and tougher, and requiring much less
care.
Stating in the paragraph above about the pH of soils, the graph below states what
the nom1al pH for soils in this area would be before adding any type of fertilizers. When
adding fertilizer to any soil the acidity of any soil will raise, but with many natural
ingredients one will be able to keep a normal pH and still keep their beautiful green lawn.
These are normal pH ranges without lime, but the most applied fertilizer is lime.
Unnecessary lime applications can result in serious lawn damage. Typically, lime raises
soil pH and, under certain soil conditions, this swing in pH can result in an iron
deficiency and other potential problems. A soil pH in the range of7.0 is ideal for most
turf grass. When in doubt, conduct a soil analysis and add lime based on the results of
this analysis (Singer, 1996).
Turf Grass Species
Sheep Fescue
Red Top
Velvet Bent grass
Hard Fescue
Chewing Fescue
Creeping Red
Creeping & Colonial Bent Grass
Perennial Rye Grass
Tall Fescue
Annual Blue Grass
Kentucky Blue Grass
Canada Blue Grass
Rough Blue Grass
Bermuda Grass
Zoysiagrass
Normal pH Range
5.0-6.0
5.0-6.0
5.0-6.0
5.0-6.5
5.0-6.5
5.5-6.5
5.5-6.5
5.5-7.0
5.5-7.0
6.0-6.5
6.0-6.5
6.0-6.5
6.0-7.0
6.0-7.0
6.0-7.0
*cited fro m Rutgers Uni versity
Insects have been best controlled by other insects for millions of years, and the
lawn is no exception. Insecticides often kill more beneficial insects than problem ones.
Once the natural balance is destroyed, continued reliance on insecticides will occur. An
example of this is earthworms. Keeping earthworms, ants and other soil creatures alive
may be critical to the long term stability of a turf grass ecosystem. Entomologists at the
University of Kentucky looked at the effects of 17 common turf grass pesticides and the
corresponding recovery of earthworm population. They found that a single application of
some of the pesticides- benomyl, ethoprop, carbaryl or bendiocarb- at label rates
reduced earthworm numbers by 60 to 99 percent, with effects lasting up to 20 weeks.
This reduced rate at which earthworms degraded thatch by incorporating it with soil.
Earthworms also help to replenish the lime and the phosphate in the soil, and although
worm killing is banned in the United States, the application of weed killer can sometimes
and most times indirectly harm them (Singer, 1996).
Insects and earthworms are not the only organisms that are affected by the
dispersal of fertilizers and other such chemicals but larger animals are harmed too. Turfdwelling and feeding species such as the American robin, Canada goose, American
pidgeon, European starling, common raccoon and eastern gray squirrel are highly
exposed to lawn chemicals. Granular formulations diazinon and chlorpyrifos can severely
impact birds that mistake the granules for seed or other food items. Diazinon, a common
lawn insecticide, is associated with large bird kills and is banned for use on American sod
farms and golf courses (Poncavage, 1991 ).
Lastly, dogs and other outdoor pets can be harmed and affected by these harmful
chemicals that people keep putting on their lawns. Outdoor pets are highly exposed to
lawn chemicals due to their behavior (licking contaminated paws and coat, breathing
close to the ground, eating contaminated grass, soil and toys) and are highly vulnerable
due to their small size (Levy, 1991).
This destruction of the natural balance is also true of weed killers. When a
crabgrass stand is killed with an herbicide, there will still be thousands of seeds ready to
start anew (Begley, 1988). In the long run, pesticides can actually help the very pests they
target by also killing their predators, and their use becomes self-perpetuating. Until a
natural balance is restored, more and more will have to be spent each year on chemicals,
and resistant pests may also invade.
Continuing on about the topic of how weed killer is very bad for lawn soils, the
point of what makes a plant a weed is brought to my attention. For instance, it was once a
sign of prestige to have clover in a lawn. Their flowers and silky green leaves were once
prized by homeowners, as was their natural production of nitrogen fertilizer, and clover
seed was sold by the bushels, alone or mixed with grass seed. It was not until a chemical
company discovered a pesticide that killed clover, but not grass, that launched an
enormous advertising campaign which made clover no longer fashionable. As a result,
people today ignore its fine qualities, even though throughout the 1950s it was as
"conm1on as blue grass." This is not the only instance of a chemical company coming
out with a chemical that would kill a plant that had no tie to the destruction of the lawn
(Findlay, 1991).
-Literature ReviewFrom the beginning of society and the development of Architecture, the human
individual has tried to find the perfect design for their perfect lawn. These people have
tried with the normal and dull, chemically infested, green lawn concept. Others have gone
out on a limb and introduced a new concept, where less is more. This idea of wild growth
and multiple flowers/shrubs was introduced but still, the perfect lawn is considered a no
decision. Many people have tried and many people will still try to find the perfect
concept for the perfect ideal lawn. The lawn must be both visually and politically correct
and pleasing, this concept is hard to accomplish while having both goals being fulfilled.
But with the great pursuit of this concept of green is better, comes the most devastating
aspect, "Chemicals." A mass amount of chemicals, such as this, will have an unnatural
effect on human behavior and human health. This is why the purpose of this research is
for Americans to take a further investigation into more adequate landscaping techniques
and practices.
Americans did not always have a love affair with our lawns. In fact it was not
until the industrial revolution that lawns became practical for most Americans. Lawns
were seen more as a luxury expense for only the wealthy who could afford grounds
keepers to maintain the fine bladed plants using scythes. But looking at it now, each year
Americans pursue with near fanaticism the great American lawn. Ironically, the aesthetic
concept of the lawn is hardly American; it originated in the late eighteenth century among
English aristocrats. The U.S. colonies adopted the lawn aesthetic in an attempt to tame
the prairies of the new country and mimic the sophistication of the old world. However,
these great swaths of exotic turf do not come cheap. They require watering, fertilizing,
and mowing. It should not come as a surprise that since the 1960's, scientists and lawn
experts have been searching for ways to enjoy thick green grass without the weekly
maintenance of mowing. They have met with limited success (Boldan, 2001 ). The
success they did have is that now in North America there is more than 32 million acres of
lawn under cultivation, occupying more land than some agriculture including wheat, corn
or tobacco. Americans also spend 750 million dollars a year on grass seed alone, and
millions more on do-it-yourself lawn and garden care, making the lawn and landscape
industry a booming sector (Scott, 2004). But with this great obsession must come great
knowledge, before disasters and problems occur. The main problems for Americans are
chemicals and the use of chemicals.
Applying chemicals to the land is becoming more and more of a major problem
that people will have to address. In the past people could simply move on to more "virgin
frontier" after they ruined and destroyed the land, Americans can no longer do so. People
now need to face the results of our aggression: "dead zones" in the oceans, and herbicide
and fertilizer overuse in agricultural regions (Wirzba, 2004). All of these chemicals that
Americans put into the soils will and have started to result in unsafe drinking water; soils
incapable of supporting organic growth or promoting natural healing because they are
devoid of microbial life; and forests dying from the toxins from sprayed chemicals. "The
use of poisons is omnipresent" states Norman Wirzba of Christian Century, "We hammer
the soil with poisons and then put it on life support with yet more toxins" (Wirzba, 2004).
Research has shown that many people think that if they mow then they will keep the
weed volume down and that will actually help the lawns chances of survival and keeping
it healthy. But in actuality repeated mowing removes vital nutrients, which gardeners
then try to replenish with fertilizers, which could eventually get into water supplies.
Cutting also checks the root development of a plant, which combined with the lack of
mulch or compost on the surface, can mean that water percolates too quickly through the
ground and dissolves lime from the soil (Hamilton, 2002). In the long run what people
think they know about lawn care is in tum actually much different then what should be
done for good lawn care and good lawn nutrient.
Not only do chemicals hurt the actual lawn and soil that are the life of the lawn
but they also hurt the protectors of the lawn. Keeping earthworms, ants and other soil
creatures alive may be "critical to the long-term stability of a turf grass ecosystem"
(Poncavage, 1991).
The burgeoning application of fertilizers and pesticides to residential lawns,
which has begun to offset the gains made in reducing the use of chemicals in agriculture,
represents a serious environmental hazard to humans in the world and United States.
Homeowners often do not realize the health hazards associated with lawn care pesticides
sold under such innocuous names as Weed & Feed and Bug-B-Gon. These products
contain pesticides such as 2, 4-D (linked to Hodgkin ' s lymphoma) and MCPP (associated
with soft-tissue cancers). People think the government would warn them ifthese widely
sold chemicals were known to damage their nervous systems, harm fetuses or give them
cancer. But none of these long-term adverse health effects are required by law to be listed
on product labels. Pesticides used solely on lawns are not required to undergo the same
rigorous testing for long-term health effects as those used on food. Further studies show
that pesticides may contain up to 99 percent inert ingredients, some of which are
suspected carcinogens, while others are linked to nervous system disorders, liver and
kidney damage and birth defects (Bradley, 2004). "More than 90 percent of pesticides
and inert ingredients are never tested for their effects on developing nervous systems,"
says John Wargo, director of the Yale Center for Children's Environmental Health.
Not only do these chemicals have an affect on children and adults, they have an
affect on unborn children. Low doses of exposure to lawn care pesticides may cause
injury to developing embryos before pregnancy is even noticed. The study' s general use
of the term pesticides refers to a host ofherbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and
fertilizers. Not just limiting itself to fertilizers like most people think. Within hours, low
dose agrochemicals and lawn care pesticides induce developmental toxicity in moraine
preimplantation embryos. Further on with high exposure to pesticides, such as those
experienced by pesticide applicators, may be associated with adverse reproductive
outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, birth defects and parental risk of infertility.
Researchers also examined chemicals and lawn care herbicides for their effects on
embryo development during the preimplantation period. All of this research just goes to
show that not only are people causing great pain to the soil and lawns that we walk on,
but people are also causing great injury to us and unborn children.
This is why the purpose ~f my research is for Americans to take a further
investigation into more adequate landscaping techniques and practices. This is in order to
prevent further damage to soils, grasses, animals and most important, humans. After all
that has been stated one can see the true meaning of organic is better. Americans can
keep the amount of lawn they have but they need to change the management procedures.
They can, if needed, reduce the amount of lawn and use the surrendered space for other
plants or for alternate nonliving materials. Or if Americans can not control the lawn with
out using unneeded chemicals, they can replace the entire lawn with other types of
vegetation and landscaping material that have no need for herbicides, pesticides or
insecticides. All these ideas are great goals to have whether people are starting a new
lawn or converting over to a more organic lawn. The average rate of fertilization in ten
resident surveys was at an incredible rate of78 percent in suburban areas (Raver, 1994).
Because lawn care and landscaping are such common practices, education programs must
be provided in order to help control further infestations of our lawns and our bodies. The
objectives of this paper and ofthe world should be to focus on human health and better
landscaping techniques for cleaner soil and grasses. These objectives can be determined
and our focus can quickly be changed if only humans would take a look at how much
fertilizer, and chemicals are really being produced and dispersed.
This study will explore what has been done to help stop the usage of chemicals on
our lawns and agriculture. Chemicals are becoming more and more of an obsession with
Americans. What Americans do not know is how bad they really are for our soils,
grasses, plants, crops and even worse ourselves. With further research and investigations
the hope of finding a better way of landscaping will be achieved. It would be so easy for
Americans and the world to go organic and use supplies such as dried poultry waste that
would supply fertility to the soils, instead of harsh chemicals that kill and supply toxin to
an already injured soil. This is not the case, but with measures and steps this could be the
case. Further investigation into more adequate landscaping techniques and practices will
be made to better the United States.
-MethodsI would like to finally travel into my actual studies and the ways I will be
retrieving my inforn1ation from my study areas. As stated before the study areas that are
being investigated are narrowed down to two precious study areas. It will be a chemically
supplied lawn in the northern half of the United States, and an untouched organic field. It
was not possible for me to do my own research and get out into nature because of the
elements and time but enough data has been retrieved to design my own ideas and
research. All ofthe data that will be used will be scientific data from researchers in the
United States. Their data will be applied to help my thesis paper get the background
information needed to make a case study and a scientific paper.
The data was received by using such means as the internet, both scholarly articles
and from online books. The other part of my information and data was gathered from
written books and from written reports on research done by scientist in previous years.
All the field work that is reported and shown in my research paper was already collected
by other scholars that had the same interests in the topic that is being displayed now.
There has been some GIS information collected through these scholars and this
information will be displayed in statistical writing and statistical graphs. Since there was
not enough time to do my own testing there will not be a section in this research paper for
statistical analysis or testing.
-ResultsThe result of all of the research is pretty clear and precise. All of the data that was
retrieved and found through my research, points that organic is the way to go. In order for
the human population to continue and in order for us as a nation to further our lives and
the quality of our soils is to make a change.
Organic lawn and garden care is a safe, effective and responsible alternative to the
use of pesticides, herbicides and commercial fertilizers, all which may pose a threat to
human and environmental wellbeing. Advanced organic products can be combined with
traditional techniques to support truly healthy, vibrantly green lawns. Organic lawn care
is not perfect, but can be very effective against weeds and pests. And really, do you want
to have a chemicalzed "golf course" lawn, or a living, healthy and safe yard where you
and your family or pets, and the neighborhood birds and squirrels, can safely play, lie or
walk on?
First step in having your great healthy and safe lawn is to use a high quality
organic fertilizer. Slow-release organic fertilizers provide vital nutrients to grasses
without risk of burning or harming grasses. These natural products help support the
health and vitality of the grass and soil, lengthening and strengthening grass roots, and
helping the grass fight off pests and disease. Commercial fertilizers harm grass and
environmental health, leach soil nutrients, and foster persistent lawn diseases like brown
spot and snow mold. Most lawns only require a spring/fall feeding, though stressed lawns
can benefit from additional applications. Organic fertilizers are cost-effective in the longrun, since they promote better growing conditions, decrease need for pest controls, and
require fewer applications (Schultz, 1989). Some companies' brands that are
recommended are CBLC-Lawn & Turf Conditioner, a premium quality organic fertilizer
for seasonal lawn and turf grass care. Another one is CB-712 Lawn Thatch Digester, it is
formulated to accelerate the decomposition of lawn thatch, grass clippings and other
organic residue. Lastly, is TK-10 Natural Weed Control, it is a granular, chemical free
pre-emergent weed control and natural fertilizer formulated to control most weeds
including, crabgrass, dandelions, annual bluegrass, annual ryegrass, creeping bent grass,
pigweed, and barnyard grass (Bradley, 2004).
Next step in the process of changing ones chemical lawn into the organic lawn is
applying seaweed. Bathing ones lawn and gardens with liquid seaweed is one of the best
things one can do for the lawn. Seaweed is loaded with trace elements like iron,
magnesium and zinc which support plant health and root development, and helps fight off
fungal diseases. Seaweed is also very cheap and effective. Monthly applications are
recommended, but even fewer sprayings will provide strong benefits.
Next is to make sure the lawn is watered deeply and early in the day. Lawns
require about one inch of water once per week. Light, frequent sprinklings encourage
shallow roots. The best time to water the lawn is early in the day. Watering late in the day
may encourage fungal invasion due to insufficient evaporation.
Next is one of the most important facts about changing ones lawn to organic.
Controlling weeds naturally. This is the step that most people do not understand. An
example of people not understanding about weeds is mushrooms. Typically the
appearance of mushrooms on a lawn points toward healthy soil. Though unsightly,
mushrooms pose no threat to a lawn and generally disappear as quickly as they appeared.
This is amazing, because most people feel that the sight of mushrooms is bad and that the
lawn is unhealthy. Understanding facts such as this and improving lawn health will
greatly reduce weeds as grass can better compete against aggressive weeds. Weeds can be
removed by hand, or there are quality organic products which can control crabgrass,
dandelions, lambs quarters, purslane and other weeds, by way of preventing the spread of
feeder roots (Scott, 2004 ).
Next step in the process of changing the lawn is thatching or raking and aerating
your lawn. Use a thatch or iron rake to remove thatch, which is compacted dead grass and
grass clippings which interfere with water reaching the roots. Ideally, this should be done
in the spring or early summer. Aeration, which removes plugs of dirt, helps increase
water retention and supports air circulation to grass roots. Every year aeration in the
spring or very early summer or the fall is sufficient and must be done. Aerators can be
rented at rental stores and some garden centers, or alternatively hand aerifiers are
available. Walking in the yard while wearing golf shoes may provide some mild benefits
and is better than nothing for your lawn. Aerating in the spring can also cause weed seeds
to germinate. When aeration is complete, apply a thin layer of organic matter i.e.
composted manure and/or peat moss mixed with sand and/or topsoil to the entire surface
ofthe lawn (Scott, 2004).
The next step in the whole process of changing the chemical lawn into a safe
organic lawn is the concept of mowing high. This is the most crucial step in improving
the health of the lawn, as a lawn mowed high supports grass health, through shading the
roots and preventing the drying out of soil. This is exactly different then what most of
America thinks. People believe that in order to have a great looking and healthy lawn,
one must mow it low and add fertilizer. If people would leave the lawns to have longer
grasses, the long grass actually fertilizers itself. In fact, grass clippings benefit the lawn
by adding nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and organic matter. Longer blades
discourage invasion by weeds and insects, and leads to lengthening of grass roots. The
best thing someone can do for their lawn is to set the mower cutting height at 2.5 to 3
inches. Also, keep mower blades sharp and avoid mowing wet grass. Never pick up the
grass clippings and leave them on the lawn, unless they are very long. This will help in
reducing the amount of fertilizer needed.
Another step that most people think that is a solution is actually a myth,
controlling bugs with pesticides. In fact people can control bugs naturally. There are
many safe ways to control lawn and garden pests. Simply mixing dishwasher soap (try
natural dishwashing soap like Seventh Generation or other "natural" brands) with water
and spraying on plants will take care of many bugs. Grubs, fungus larvae, weevils and
borers and other pests can be eliminated with nematodes, a natural, and biological control
(Schultz, 1989).
A couple more steps that need to be taken in order to have the perfect organic
lawn are as follows. The next step is to over seed. Even though this sounds ridiculous and
something that is easy, it is over looked. Sprinkle grass seed throughout your lawn in the
spring and fall. This will help fill in bare spots and help choke out weeds. If filling in bare
areas, first loosen soil and spread peat moss, compost or top soil. Walk over the lawn to
help push seeds into the soil, and then make sure to water. I mentioned putting top soil or
compost on the lawn. Topdressing can be beneficial to most lawns. Good topdressing
consists of like stated, peat moss and/or composted manure mixed with sand and/or
topsoil. It is quite important that one applies a thin layer over the entire surface of the
lawn (Scott, 2004).
The second to last step from the research done on finding the perfect organic lawn
is to get away from the chemical fields that people have now on their property and make
sure to check soil pH and add lime (if needed). Soil pH may be contributing to weed
problems or poor grass health. Checking soil pH (once every four years) is a very
inexpensive tool that is worthwhile. Many soils in the Midwest (about 70%) could benefit
by adding lime to counter excess acidity (Singer, 1996). Earthworms are being killed by
the fertilizers added by every day lawn care takers. Having at least 10 earthworms per
square foot of soil is an indicator of good healthy soil (Poncavage, 1991 ).
The final and last step that was found in the research is something that most
people already do, they just do it wrong. This step was mentioned earlier but it is very
important to having a lawn that is healthy without chemical damage. Top dress your soil
as much as possible. Adding compost to the lawn will greatly support its health. If one
does not have compost on their land, buy cow, sheep or chicken manure and spread it at a
rate of about 100 pounds per 1,000 square feet (Scott, 2004). And make sure to do this
process at least once to twice a year between the months of June and August.
In general natural fertilizers, along with finding natural alternatives, will help
ones lawn stay healthier than it ever was when the lawn was on chemicals. Natural
alternatives formulated with, sea plants, macro and micro nutrients, carbohydrates, amino
acids, enzymes, microbes, etc ... , stimulate soil biomass and promote healthy root and
shoot growth. Chemicals do not provide essential nutrients necessary for healthy plant
growth (Schultz, 1989).
-DiscussionSince chemicals do not provide essential nutrients, what are the essential nutrients
for plant growth? The following table shows the elements essential to great plant growth.
After telling about the steps people must do in order to get the great organic lawn, this
table breaks down what the soil will also need in nutrientional values to help with the
steps that people have no control over.
ITable 1. Elements essential to plant growth and their sources*
Used in relatively large amounts
~no:!!Ja:~~m air IFrom soil solids
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen Phosphorus
Potassium Sulfur Calcium
Magnesium
I
Used in relatively small
amounts
II From soil solids
I
Iron Manganese Boron
Molybdenum Copper Zinc
Chlorine Cobalt
!*From N.C. Brady. 1984. The Nature and Properties of Soils (9th Edition).
I
This table obviously does not explain in great detail everything that a plant must
have in order to have the best growth and best life it could possibly achieve, but it does a
good job ofbreaking down some of the essential nutrients. As the results and conclusion
state there has been and can be a lot done to better ones lawn. If people would try we can
take what we have learned from the organic field and change the way people treat their
chemically induced lawns. Like anything else, all it takes is time. There are ways people
can make this country and nation better. People have failed to realize the affects of what
they are doing to our nation's soils. The chemicals that people are putting into the soils
are killing our soils, grasses, and even worse ourselves. This research paper has shown a
lot of benefits that organic soils and organic lawns will have for humans, organisms, and
flora, but in conclusion organic matter only benefits itself.
Table 2. Functions of soil organic matter
Source: Sparrow eta/. (1999); Catching eta/. (2001 , 2002)
[Physical functions
'!chemical functions
Biological functions
.•C".
•
•
•
Bind soil particles
together in stable
aggregates
Influence water
holding and aeration
Influence soil
temperature
•
•
•
Major source of
cation exchange
capacity
Source of pH
buffering
Binding site for
heavy metals and
pesticides
•
•
~
Food source for
microbes and small
animals
Major reservoir of
plant nutrients
The recommendations that this research paper should express are that future
attempts at comparing chemical and organic lawns with the same hypothesizes in mind
will be able to find the same information and stats. The information and tables that our
displayed in this research paper our great tools in showing that chemical lawns do have a
harmful affect on our nervous system, and our soils.
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