Lawn Services: The Devil’s Playground
Aside from the occasional funeral, I haven’t had a lot of church since Catholic school. I’m more of a fire and brimstone tree hugger. I believe in global warming and climate change, in the long term effects of our arrogance and wastefulness. Oh, and science — I believe in science and education.
One of my big gripes is with golf courses and the like. A nice green lawn is great, sure — but when you live close to the water, you get pissed off about pollution. It’s easy to see how dumping oil or antifreeze is bad, but one of the biggest sources of water pollution we face is fertilizer.
When you use chemical fertilizers, runoff from storm water carries nutrients to the gutters, streams and rivers. This concentrates nitrogen and phosphorous in bodies of water and causes algae to go nuts, resulting in eutrophication. The algae chokes out all other life and turns a pond into a fetid bog.
Not only are most lawn services terribly un-green, but according to one Cambridge landscaper I know, they’re a total ripoff. Lawn services charge customers every time they come to spray chemicals on the grass. So, they spray pesticides and chemical fertilizers whether the yard needs them or not. You’ll see the chemical tanks come out in August, when fertilizer burns plants; even in the Spring, grass can only absorb so much, and some commercial contractors spray — and charge — twice a week when once a month would give you a healthier, greener lawn.
Consumers are really dopey about this stuff. I have neighbors who will dump “Weed and Feed” on new grass and scratch their heads when the grass dies. That stuff is harsh fertilizer mixed with — cut the bull — weed killer. Grass is pretty much a weed. Nasty stuff.
Hands down, organic fertilizers like Neptune’s Harvest are better products. Spreading organic compost or composted manure works great. Fish or seaweed emulsion, like bat or bird guano tea, can be sprayed all summer if you want. And it doesn’t smell once it’s been composted. Chemical fertilizer smells like chemicals.
Pay someone to cut the grass; but don’t fall for the lawncare scam. It’s a crock of…well, you know….
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