Healthy Lawns and Landscapes

McGovern, a Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA) Organic Landcare Professional and avid gardener discussed reducing pesticide and synthetic fertilizer use, composting, and general lawn care.  McGovern offered a variety of tips, such as:      

• Test your soil.  Many soils do not require additional fertilizer and adding fertilizer can actually harm grass and other plants.  (UMass Amherst performs soils test for $9/sample.  Find more at UMass Amherst Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory.)   
  
• If your soil requires additional fertilizer, use organic fertilizer or compost which releases nutrients slowly over an extended period of time.
  
• Select grass species that are appropriate for your site conditions.  Consider using grass seed mixes with a high percentage (65-90%) of fine fescue blend.  Fescue blends require less watering than tradition Kentucky bluegrass blends and grow well in shaded areas.   
  
• Encourage grass to out compete weeds by: creating the proper soil conditions for your grass species; mowing high (keep grass blades 2-3” high); leaving grass clippings on the lawn to add nitrogen; and organic matter to the soil, and topdressing lawn with ¼” compost in spring and/or fall.
  
• Prevent turfgrass disease by: irrigating only in the morning; not over watering; mowing grass only when dry; keeping mower blades sharp; and never removing more than one third of the grass blade.
  
• Do not mow or fertilize brown grass.  Brown grass has gone dormant; it is likely still healthy and will return to green when the rain returns.       
  
• Encourage biological activity in your soil through composting and mulching.  Remember, not all pests are bad, in fact many are beneficial.  Microbes, earthworms and certain types of insects aerate soil, increase organic matter in soil and keep pest organisms in check through predation and competition.
  
• Be patient!  If you have used pesticides or synthetic fertilizers in the past it may take a few seasons to restore the natural balance of your yard.  In the end you will be rewarded with a yard that is healthy for you, your kids, your pets and the Charles River. 

CRWA Landscape Designer Viola Augustin discussed rain gardens, landscaped areas specially designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff.  Rain gardens take planning and preparation, follow these steps and consult these references to build your own rain garden: 

• Select your site:
  Place the garden at least 10’ away from your house and other buildings;
  Select a site with at least a 1% slope between your house and the garden (garden should be down gradient of house).
• Size the garden, one-sixth of the footprint of your house is a good rule of thumb.
• Test soil infiltration rate.
• Test runoff flow to ensure stormwater is flowing from your downspout to the garden.
• Dig the garden.  Depth is typically 5-6", although it will vary with soil infiltration rates.
• Amend soil by adding organic material, if necessary.
• Select plants, native plants which can tolerate both wet and dry conditions are preferred.  Read CRWA's rain garden fact sheet for a list of suitable plants.

Following the presentations CRWA raffled off a composting bin generously donated by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.  This workshop was partially funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.  If you missed the workshop but would like to learn more, it will air on Newton Community Access Channel, check back for broadcast dates and times.  If you do not live in Newton but would like this seminar to air on your town's local cable channel please contact Julie Wood.     

Updated 5/15/08