It’s been a long time since I’ve broken off a relationship. Sure enough, I fell back on the old “It’s not you, it’s me” line. But this time, it really is. I’ve known for too long it was time to move on, go my own way.
I broke up with my lawn dude – the one who has been keeping my lawn lush and the dandelions at bay for the past few years. He’s a nice, college-educated guy, went to UCONN College of Agriculture. But like most relationships, one of us grew and the other didn’t.
I’ve decided 2008 is the year for me to really go organic with my lawn. I confess, the only way I felt I could get my “builder’s special” lawn – the usual Kentucky Blue-grass, red fescue, perennial rye mix that came with the house – established on lousy, mostly clay soil, with no shade, was through the standard “weed and feed” regimen. So, a neighbor fixed me up with the licensed applicator and we agreed to the usual four fertilizer applications a year and a little pre-emergent herbicide to control the broadleaves, or anything that wasn’t grass.
At first, things seemed fine. Or, at least I got what I asked for, whether it really was best in the long run.
I finally had to admit that his needs were being met more than mine. He reliably showed up and applied synthetic fertilizer pellets, whether I wanted him to or not, justifying that at least it was slow-release. He kept wanting to do it, regardless of whether my yard and I were in the mood or even needed anything. I should have questioned why he never once suggested a soil test to see what my nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium (N, P & K) needs might be before he spread around any more of the stuff.
The yard greened up nicely in the spring. But it didn’t sustain itself through the summer, especially when I didn’t religiously water it. Yet it always rallied in response to an early fall shot of fertilizer. But the whole experience left me unfulfilled, not feeling good about my choices or what it cost.
So, I started holding out. I cancelled the end-the-year and first-of-the year treatments, rationalizing that at least I was taxing the rest of the environment less, sending less runoff into the Long Island Sound.
Finally, I got up the courage to call the whole thing off. Lord knows, there are plenty of other choices out there. The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) has been around for years, espousing organic lawn care that is based on a natural fertilizers and composting that feed the soil instead of the grass. See them at www.organiclandcare.net
Last spring, Paul Tukey, the editor of People, Places Plants magazine and founder of www.safelawns.org launched a three pronged campaign that promises to fundamentally change the way American turf care and grounds maintenance are done. He has started an organic lawn demonstration plot on none other than “America’s Front Yard,” the National Mall in Washington, DC. Perhaps you heard him speak on a swing through Connecticut or on my CT Outdoors radio show last summer.
Safelawns has since gone further, launching franchises for lawn care companies, teaming up with Connecticut organic lawn care expert Todd Harrington, creator of SafeTea™ liquid biological amendment, to offer natural and organic lawn care products, services and know-how.
The problem, though, is that most of us don’t like change. Even if we sense something is sort of broken, why change the status quo? Otherwise, why would so many Americans be overweight – and not exactly happy with it – or worse, chronically obese and suffering the medical consequences?
As an old boyfriend used to say, “You can get used to anything, even that rock in your shoe.” No, he’s not the one I married. But I have had to admit there is some truth in that annoying statement.
“It won’t be the same, you’re going to have to do things differently, you know,” my soon-to-be-ex-lawn dude told me. “You’re not going to be as happy as with what I’ve given you these past years.”
He raised the specter of needing to plant new varieties of grass, ones that thrive on less fertilizer and that are hopefully more drought-tolerant. And that’s a bad thing?
Those applications of composted materials might look a bit scruffy, he said, and it’s really more convenient (for him) to sprinkle granules than apply liquid compost tea solutions. Frankly, I’m invigorated by the prospects of trying something new.
And then, the clincher – sure, I may feel good about leaving him now, but it is going to be a long, lonely, uncertain three years before my lawn and I will be back in the thick of things. We’ll see about that.
I genuinely feel sorry for the guy and his situation. I won’t even go into the “You do chemicals and I don’t want to any more” scenario.
Petroleum is the feedstock for synthetic fertilizers. So, in addition to it costing more for him to run the mower, the price he pays for fertilizer has almost doubled. Sure, he can pass along some of that increased cost. But I get the distinct feeling I’m not the only one dropping him this spring. He’s got to be getting about as lonely as the Maytag repairman.
So, forging ahead, I’m off to the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show this Thursday through Sunday in Hartford. I’ll be clutching my precious little plastic container of yard soil and I’ll head straight over to the University of Connecticut Soil Testing Laboratory’s display to take them up on the free soil pH testing. Anyone can bring in ½ cup of soil, UCONN says, and they will test it and let you know how much, if any, limestone you need to add for optimal plant growth.
While you’re at it, ask the Master Gardeners and staff horticulturists from the UCONN Home and Garden Education Center how to get an analysis done for N, P and K and help yourself to the free gardening handouts to make the most of your lawn and gardens this year.
I know I plan to have a good year in my yard.
I bought and planted Zoysia last year. Every one of the plugs died.
Don’t give up, John. I think some of the marketers have made zoysia sound far too easy. In this case, maybe the problem wasn’t you. According to Paul Tukey, now zoysia lawns can be started from seed. Look for a cultivar named ‘Companion.’ Hey bloggers, have any of you tried zoysia seed? Let us know your results. Suzanne
OY Zoysia! Yes it is and does all that Tom says and more. Our first house, umpteen years ago, had zoysia grass. It grows and spreads so well that it can and does invade other surfaces. Ours was invading the street surfaces quite effectively.
You are doing the right thing! Organic is the way to go. Great column.
You go, girl! I used to apply chemicals to my own lawn, gave up years ago, and haven’t looked back. I do have zoysia, however. It thrives in the sun, goes dormant in drought, and greens up in the fall. I NEVER water it. It grows so thickly that it tends to crowd out most weeds. You can deal with the invaders one at a time, by digging or spot-spraying. The downside is that the lawn develops a lot of thatch, so it never looks VERY green. But so what! You can buy it as plugs in the spring (see Parade); planting them IS labor intensive, but they’ll eventually take over your lawn.
Tom, you’re an inspiration. So you’re saying that zoysia even crowds out dandelions? Suzanne
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