Europe might have been the place that invented lawns, but they've reached their zenith on the North American continent. Inside the United States, a yard of lush green grass is as American as apple pie, baseball, and a backyard barbecue.
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Even in the northern neighbor of Canada, a green and living lawn is a proof of place, simultaneously conveying privilege and responsibility. It's almost like the clothes you wear. You get to look great wearing them, but you clearly earned the money to buy great threads and then chose wisely. In a lot of the southern regions of Canada and all of the lower 48 states, grass is a verified obsession among homeowners.
The downside of the pursuit of a perfect lawn is that this can wreak havoc on both the environment and your checking account. Roughly 35 million acres of American soil are dedicated to just turf grass alone. Is that number scary?
Consider that American homes and businesses collectively spend $40 billion each year on things like chemicals, sod, and seed. Canada is following suit. Even though this country has only about one-tenth the American population, annual sales of lawn care products here have still risen to more than $2 billion annually.
If you think you're already doing green yard care, that's great, but check yourself to make sure you really are as you consider the following 8 facts:
1) Nearly 5 percent of air pollution in North America comes from lawnmowers alone.
2) Approximately half of nitrogen from lawn fertilizer leaches away or runs off, where it either ends up in ground or surface water. That can include the wells you rely on.
3) An estimated 65 million birds die each year from pesticide poisoning in the United States alone.
4) Almost a third of water on the Eastern Coast of America is used for watering lawns. On the Western Coast, it's over half.
5) Nearly 70 million pounds of herbicides and pesticides get applied to American lawns every year. That's more than 10 times what gets applied to American farmland acres!
6) American lawns see the use of 70 million tons of annual fertilizer.
7) An estimated half of Toronto homeowners have used pesticides in their own yard in the last two years.
8) In a publication titled "Nutrient Management For Lawn Service Companies," the Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests that many pesticides and fungicides kill off two-thirds of more of earthworms in the ground they get applied to.
In short, using organic lawn care helps your yard get ready for organic products. Rather than just throwing down sod across your yard, your grass is likely to actually grow better if you use organic lawn care services.
When you use chemicals on your grass and soil, then you're not only hurting them but also your pets, children, wildlife, and even yourself. Prior to making a switch to organic lawn care, it's crucial that you get rid of all unwanted pests and weeds.
You can boost your root growth dramatically. Organic lawn care treatments release potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen over the passage of time. Grassroots wind up absorbing them slowly in small doses. That will help your grass roots grow stronger and faster.
The health of your soil will be enhanced with organic lawn care. It should help your soil retain its moisture for longer stretches of time. It'll also help your soil wind up being looser and less packed, which means there's more room for plants to establish roots and then grow. You might even enrich the very texture of your soil. The soil is likely to get increasingly loose, porous, and even crumbly.
For any fertilizer or other organic lawn care product to be considered organic, it must be made entirely and only from organic products. What that means is that such products are not only better in general for the environment, but they're totally biodegradable.
Given these facts, it means that your organic fertilizer is made totally from natural products without any chemicals whatsoever. As such, your gardening process and work won't leave harsh, hurtful, or harmful compounds left over.
The safety of all on your property is essential, including your pets, your kids, and your guests. Those who spend a lot of time on your lawn might develop health problems in time if you regularly use chemical fertilizers and treatments.
Dogs are often known for eating weeds or grass if their stomach is upset or they're just hungry. If you have an animal that eats a plant sprayed with a harmful pesticide, your furry friend might fall ill or even pass away. Kids can likewise get very sick just from playing in dirt that's been likewise fertilized.
The use of organic lawn care products and treatments helps out the environment. If you use any harsh chemicals, then there are negative effects for surrounding wildlife and animals.
Organic lawn care treatment often lasts longer in the soil around your home. Chemicals often get washed out pretty fast, but organic materials often get absorbed into the ground. You might even kill off your grass with too many chemicals or too much fertilizer. That leaves you with brown spots you aren't sure how to fix. An excess of organic material will never kill your grass.
Your lawn can provide you with so very much. You can take pride in your yard looking great, making a statement to neighbors and visitors alike. If you have kids, then knowing that they have a comfortable and soft-footed play area is a unique peace of mind.
When you can shift away from harsh industrial chemicals to things like compost or even protein-based fertilizers, you'll remark how easy organic lawn care is. Also, the speed of the results might prove astonishing.
With luck, any positive changes you notice are going to motivate you to take additional steps towards the healthiest soil and lawn on your black, possibly inspiring neighbors to follow suit in honoring Mother Nature's purity and beauty.
Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.
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