SUBMITTED by
Susan Peterson Gateley (28-Dec-2010)
 |
Richard saying a few words... |
HOW could the way you look after your lawn next spring and summer affect nearby waterways? Justask Richard the frog. He's the bullfrog that sang the blues for Twinkle Toes on Main Duck Island and gave her item #2 on Sid and Richard's list of how to help our water.
Lawn care can pollute nearby water. Both Richard and Sid want you to remember healthy soil means healthy water. And you can't have a nice lush green grassy lawn if the soil isn't healthy. The Internet says lawns in suburbia on average receive ten times the chemical pesticides per acre as farmland and that nationwide at least ten million pounds of chemical fertilizers and pesticides go on lawns and home gardens each year. That's a lot of potential pollution. It also says the typical pesticide applications used on lawns kill 60 to 90% of your worms-and with fewer worms your turf soil is less healthy.
Healthy soil is key. Experts say check your soil pH and add lime if needed, and add compost whenever you can. Compost helps your soil resist compaction and retain water and nutrients. The easiest way to add compost is leave your lawn clippings on the grass. You can buy inexpensive soil test kits at garden stores or try the
Cornell Cooperative Extension service in Newark for information.
Share:
.jpg)
