How do you know if your lawn has a chemical addiction? Ask yourself these questions: Do you apply fertilizer more than twice a year? Do you or your lawn care service apply blanket weed or insect controls or use combination fertilizer and weed controls (Weed & Feed)? Do you water your lawn every day?
If your answer is yes, your lawn may be a junkie.
What can you do if your lawn is addicted to fertilizers and/or pesticides? First, reduce the chemicals — but realize that, while it goes through detoxification, your lawn won’t look as good. Once you have weaned your lawn from its chemical dependency, it should be more healthy and vigorous, and safer for kids and pets.
First, raise the cutting height of your mower to at least three inches. Taller grass shades roots and soil, reduces water loss and prevents weed seed germination. Roots are only as long as the grass blades, so a longer blade means deeper roots and greener grass, right through August.
Next, let the clippings stay on the lawn. Use a mulching mower or add a mulching blade to your current mower. Clippings are free, natural fertilizer. It is a myth that clippings cause thatch — over use of fertilizer, pesticides and water causes thatch.
An excellent, natural source of nitrogen (fertilizer) is Dutch white clover. Clover grabs nitrogen from the air and makes it available for other plants. Clover also increases plant species diversity in your lawn, making it hardier. Adding just 5% clover to any grass seed mix will make your lawn more sustainable.
Next, be prepared for dead spots or thin areas. Have some perennial ryegrass seed on hand and overseed these areas immediately to prevent weed invasion.
If you need to renovate, or want to start over, choose a seed mix that contains at least 60% tall or fine fescue. Fescues demand fewer chemicals. Avoid Kentucky bluegrass because it is more likely to become chemically addicted. Do this type of seeding in late August.
If the presence of dandelions or other weeds bother you, dig the weeds up. There are many new gadgets on the market that make this easier.
And lastly, if you are going to water, make sure you water deeply and infrequently, to make roots grow strong and deep. Don’t water every day.
Help your lawn kick its chemical habit. For help or more information go to the Maine YardScaping Partnership website at www.yardscaping.org .
Kathy Hoppe is an environmental specialist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Land and Water Quality.