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North Columbia Environmental Society - Positive Solutions For a Healthy Environment and Community
For More Information
■ http://www.northcolumbia.org/ for
Elements of Natural Lawn Care more links and also check out the
NCES at the Library.
■ http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca search
the Canadian Mortgage and Housing
Corporation website for “landscaping”
A good way to begin natural lawn care is • Leave your clippings on the lawn, they and download information on Low-
by aerating your lawn. Not only will this provide free fertilizer and keeps roots Maintenance Lawns.
help badly compacted soil receive moist. Contrary to popular belief, it does
oxygen, nutrients, and water deep down not cause thatch buildup. ■http://www.canadiangardening.com
in the root zone, but many weeds hate search for “lawns” to find an excellent
well aerated soil. article on carefree lawns including
• Keep your mower blade sharp. Dull
information on choosing grass species
blades tear the grass, leaving it open to and a list of seed sources.
Aerate your lawn each spring, or a disease and heat stress.
minimum of every second year until the
■ http://www.healthylawns.net for
return of earthworms and other below- • Don’t cut wet grass. This can spread information on Canada’s Healthy
ground organisms reduces the need for lawn diseases and cause clippings to Lawns Strategy and lawn care tips.
manual aeration. clump and smother the grass.
■ http://www.seattle.gov search for
Follow it up with a top-dressing of soil. “natural lawn care” for excellent
• Don’t overwater your lawn. Your lawn
Compost is great or well-rotted (or information.
sterilized) manure. Even a thin layer will needs a maximum of 2.5 cm (1 inch) of
improve soil structure and feed your soil. water per week. In Revelstoke we often ■ Check the Revelstoke Library for
don’t have to add extra water. Beautiful easy lawns and landscapes:
Re-seeding is the next step to fill in bare a year-round guide to a low-
spots and help reduce the chance of new • A good way to see if your lawn needs maintenance, environmentally safe
weeds sprouting. It is also a good way to water is the step test – if you step on the yard, and How to get your lawn &
introduce hardy, pest-resistant and low- grass and it does not spring back, garden off drugs: a basic guide to
watering is required. Walk around your pesticide-free gardening in North
maintenance grass varieties such as America, and How to Get Your Lawn
perennial ryes and fine fescues to your lawn, sometimes only certain areas may
off Grass: A North American Guide to
lawn. need water, not the whole lawn. Turning Off the Water Tap and Going
Native (2002), both by Carole Rubin.
A lawn with diverse grass types will be • If you don’t have a large lawn, buy a
push-mower. The only side effect of the
better able to recover from stresses such
push-mower is a workout that is good for
This Eco-Fact Sheet
as droughts, pest outbreaks, disease, and
traffic. Re-seeding is most effective in the your health. was produced by:
spring or early fall.
A word on pest control: Revelstoke lawns
Leave mulched grass clippings on your do not have a lot of pest problems and
lawn to provide up to 40% of the nitrogen keeping your lawn healthy is your best
required and promote development of defense. In a vigorously growing lawn,
complex soil structure with lots of insect populations will rarely reach levels
microbial activity. As your soil becomes that require treatment and weeds will be
healthier, your lawn’s fertilizer needs will crowded out.
lessen.
Here are some natural lawn care tips P.O. Box 3116 Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0
A healthy natural lawn will be medium for dealing with pests: E-mail: nces@northcolumbia.org
green in colour, rather than the deep green Website: www.northcolumbia.org
• Accept a few plants that are not grass in
brought on by excessive nitrogen. Also-
your lawn. Remove the ones that you Funding provided by:
• Mow high, at least 6.5 cm (2 ½ inch). really can’t stand by hand.
Longer grass means deeper roots and
helps minimize moisture loss by shading • Try not to use chemicals on your lawn.
the root zone. Herbicides and insecticides harm
beneficial plants, insects, birds, etc. They
• Mow often enough that you don't cut cause serious health risks in humans and
off more than one-third of the grass at any pets.
one time.
2007/2008
North Columbia Environmental Society - Positive Solutions For a Healthy Environment and Community