Organic Land Care

Organic land care offers you a way to live in a beautiful landscape which is safer for you, your children and pets. It allows you to care for your lawn, trees and shrubs without harming the environment.
The guiding principle of organic land care is ecological stewardship and can be summarized in the phrase "First Do No Harm".

• By protecting and enhancing natural elements and choosing indigenous plants appropriate for the site, we maintain and encourage existing diversity, resulting in a landscape that is varied and beautiful.
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• By reducing overall chemical dependence and by using materials that assist rather than overwhelm the natural system, we practice land care that is gentle to the land and we minimize risks - to human health, to the environment and to plants and animals that share the land.

WHY ORGANIC LAND CARE?

Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill living things. Different chemicals are formulated to kill different organisms (insecticides for insects, herbicides for weeds, fungicides for diseases, etc.), but pesticides kill many desirable organisms in addition to those they target.
There is growing evidence of the hazards associated with long-term use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Blood tests show that people in all areas of the world, including those where no pesticides are used, have detectable levels of pesticides in their blood and fatty tissues. Pesticide exposure in humans has been associated with birth defects, numerous cancers including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (the second fastest growing cancer in the U.S.), Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders, immune system problems and male infertility. Exposure to high levels of nitrogen in drinking water has been linked to heart problems and birth defects as well.
There is little research about the combined effects of commonly used chemicals. Most are tested individually, although they are often applied severally. Young children (including the unborn) and pets are particularly vulnerable to chemical exposures due their body size, rapidly developing brains and nervous systems and behaviors (fingers in mouth etc.)
Chemicals used in lawn and yard care do not stay where they are applied. When chemicals are applied the ground, they can be carried into buildings and cars on shoes and paws. Without exposure to sunlight and water they break down very slowly and can remain for months in carpets, toys and dust bunnies.
Even pesticides that remain outdoors move around. Rainwater washes chemicals down streets and storm drains to streams, wetlands, lakes and eventually the oceans. Rainwater soaking into the ground carries fertilizers and pesticides into ground water, contaminating drinking wells and aquifers. Pesticides absorbed by plants or insects accumulate in the food chain as contaminated organisms are eaten by birds, fish or other wildlife and people. When chemicals are sprayed, breezes carry droplets to neighboring properties, even miles away. Cleaning sprayers and dumping the wash water down drains sends pesticides and fertilizers directly into a septic system (and the groundwater) or sewage treatment plants (and the local river).

WHAT IS ORGANIC?

By a broad definition, any molecule that contains a carbon atom is organic. However, in landcare terminology, "organic" means that no synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or other harmful soil amendments are used and that the land care practices used on a property will benefit the whole ecosystem.

BEWARE OF MISLEADING ORGANIC CLAIMS

When buying land care products, read the label carefully. Avoid harmful "natural" ingredients like sewage sludge (bio solids) or other industrial compost materials that may contain heavy metals or other toxins, super-phosphates, or ingredients like "natural nitrite of soda" (also called Cilean nitrate) that add salt to the soil. Also be aware of inert ingredients that are dangerous in their own right. Their presence and type may be more difficult to determine since companies are not always required to list them on packaging.
If you use a professional lawn, garden or tree service and have requested an organic program, always ask what materials are being applied and why they need to be used. Some land and care professionals can claim to be organic but still use materials that are harmful to your health and the environment. Information is the best method of evaluation.

IF I WANT TO GO ORGANIC, WHAT DO I DO FIRST?

The first thing is to decide if you are going to "do-it-yourself", hire a professional or do some yourself and hire professionals for larger or more complicated projects.

ISN'T ORGANIC LAND CARE MORE EXPENSIVE?

If your landscape is chemically dependent, initially organic land care will probably be more expensive. The property will need to be analyzed to create an appropriate transitional treatment plan. There may be a large amount of organic inputs needed to rebalance soil chemistry, restore proper biology and correct the negative effects of chemical applications. However, in the long term, organic land care actually costs less, especially when environmental costs are considered. The deep root structure it creates requires less watering and applications of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are avoided. An established organic ecosystem is less susceptible to disease and the costly applications needed to treat it. It gradually becomes self-sustaining and needs fewer inputs. It requires less mowing and maintenance, making it friendlier to the environment.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I SWITCH TO ORGANIC LAND CARE

If your landscape is not chemically dependent, the transition should be fairly simple. If your plants are addicted, remember that detoxification is almost always a painful process, particularly for turfgrasses. Whether you try going "cold turkey", or gradually weaning your plants away from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and the attendant over-watering, there will be a period of time when they look less green and manicured. During this time, patience is needed; good things are going on underground as soil health is re-established and plants switch their energies to growing good roots rather than leaves. Eventually, your yard can be lush and beautiful and you will have the additional peace of mind of knowing you are not sacrificing your health or the environment for green grass.

HOW IS ORGANIC LAND CARE PUT INTO PRACTICE?

Whether by a professional landscaper or a homeowner, some practices are key to organic land care. Here are some very basic practices that should be included in any organic land care effort.

• Right plant in the right place - Plants have specific needs in terms of soil type, sunlight, temperature, and nutrient and water availability. When a plant is chosen to match the site, it creates far less disturbance and requires less maintenance than when a site is modified to fit the plant. Mismatched plants are more likely to attract pests, develop diseases and require more water and nutrient inputs than those that are correctly matched to their site. Using native species when planting ecosystems (and groups of several compatible plant species) creates a natural, low-maintenance landscape. Also, avoid invasive species that spread beyond your yard to take over natural ecosystems.
• Regular soil tests - The basis of an organic landscape is healthy soil. A healthy soil is free of crusts, compaction, erosion, pesticides, salt build-up and other toxins. It contains the proper balance of minerals, nutrients, organic matter and other essential components. Its native organisms are active. Soil tests are the first step to creating healthy soils. They show exactly what nutrients and organic materials are available to the plants in your landscape and identify deficiencies, excesses or imbalances that can be corrected with approved organic amendments or compost.
• Fertilizers, Soil Amendments and Compost - Many soils, especially those that have been extensively treated with synthetic products, will require organic inputs to regain their health. Fertilizers and soil amendments are used to modify existing soil conditions. Organic fertilizers and amendments feed the soil biology, benefiting the plant and creating a healthy root system.
  
  High quality compost is organic material that has been well-decomposed and highly aerobic. Compost is one of the best soil amendments. It provides a stable source of nutrients, beneficial organisms and organic matter, while improving soil structure, water and nutrient retention and suppressing plant diseases.
  Synthetic fertilizers add salt to soils, damaging the soil structure, killing the soil biology and artificially stimulating plant growth at unsustainable levels. Unnecessary applications of ANY fertilizer or soil amendment can cause mineral nutrients to build up to excessive levels in the soil or escape to nearby waters and cause pollution problems.
• Rethink your total lawn area - Lawns, even organic ones, are high-maintenance areas in a landscape. Limiting lawns to only necessary areas is less costly to maintain, easier to care for and better for the environment. Appropriate low-maintenance lawn alternatives that may be appropriate to your site include: meadow areas of low-growing native grasses and wildflowers, low-mow grass mixes and shade tolerant ground covers and perennials.
  
  When planting lawn areas, choose grass seed mixtures to match your site conditions. Make sure to include clover in the mix to provide natural nitrogen. Keep mower blades sharp and leave grass clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients and water. Water your lawn only if an inch of rain has not fallen in the past week. Only apply compost or other soil amendments indicated as necessary by soil tests.
• Pest Management - Weeds, insects and diseases can all be managed organically. Healthy soils and plants are less prone to disease and pest problems. The key to pest control is timing. Regular monitoring of plant health can identify pest problems early. Preventive measures can eliminate many weed and pest problems before they become established. This system of monitoring and proactive treatment is called Integrated Plant Management (IPM)

Understanding of the one-time use of non-organic methods. "Emergency Non-Organic Rescue Treatments" should be rare and only undertaken as a last resort. An example would be to save the life of a valued tree from a pest that can't be adequately controlled using organic methods.

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