There has been many articles printed this summer about pesticides and the growing trend for municipalities to ban the cosmetic use of them.  But the benefits and simplicity of getting your lawn off drugs should be reason enough for you to stop relying on chemicals even without government regulations in place.

  This brings us to our next Clean & Green tip, which deals with actions we can take on our properties.

Clean & Green #7: reduce my use of chemical fertilizers and eliminate my use of pesticides.

There are several reasons to wean your lawn off drugs.  Chemical pesticides and fertilizers contaminate surface and groundwater resources, diminishing the quality of our drinking water, aquatic habitats, and health of aquatic organisms.  Many fish and aquatic insect species are highly sensitive to substances such as pesticides and fertilizers.

  Not only do these chemicals affect aquatic organisms, but also terrestrial species such as robins, geese, squirrels, pets and humans can become ill when coming into contact with pesticides and fertilizers.  Children are most affected by these chemicals, mainly due to their elevated chances of exposure from playing outdoors on contaminated grass.

  Another reason to stop using chemical fertilizers and pesticides on your lawn is that chemicals actually degrade the over-all long-term health of your lawn.  Long-term use of chemicals on your property can lead to pesticide-tolerant pests and fertilizer-dependent grasses, both of which require ever-increasing amounts of chemicals to remain effective.

  So how do you maintain a beautiful lawn without resorting to chemicals?  It's easy!  And the result will be a more healthy, beautiful and lush looking lawn than you ever thought possible, and with less time and effort, too!

  The primary principle behind maintaining a healthy lawn without chemicals is that you need to nourish the soil.  Natural fertilizers that accomplish this include compost, manure, grass clippings, and slow-release organic fertilizers.

  To fertilize with compost, simply sprinkle or rake it evenly over your lawn.  To fertilize your lawn with grass clippings, simply spread them out on your lawn after mowing or use a mulching lawnmower.  Grass clippings are an ideal fertilizer because they are full of nutrients and organic matter that can help to boost soil fertility by up to 30%.  Grass clippings will also return moisture to your soil and shade it from the sun's drying rays.

  Aerating your soil relieves compaction and cultivates the soil.  Natural aerators such as earthworms perform an important job by increasing air and water penetration and movement in the soil, keeping your lawn healthy.  In addition to attracting and maintaining natural aerators, you can manually aerate your soil in the spring or fall prior to fertilization.

  Overseeding your lawn once a year with a mixture of grass species will help keep your lawn thick and healthy.  A lawn composed of many different grass species is better able to deal with and recover from stresses such as drought and disease.  A dense lawn will crowd out weeds, and overseeding allows bare spots to become covered and prevents weed species from becoming established.  If do you notice weeds starting to sprout up, sprinkling corn-gluten meal on them will kill new seedlings and provide nitrogen for your lawn.

  The way you mow your lawn is an important factor in determining its health.  It is necessary to keep you mower blades sharp.  Dull blades tear at grass, giving it a frayed look and making it more susceptible to disease.  You should never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade at once, as this will send the plant into shock and result in longer grass clippings that will take longer to decompose.

  When you do cut your grass, you should set your mower on the highest setting.  Leaving your grass at least three inches long will encourage strong roots, shade out weeds, shade the soil to reduce water loss, and make your lawn appear thicker.

  One final tip that will help you maintain a healthy lawn naturally is to water wisely.  Your lawn needs no more than one inch of water a week.  This requirement can usually be fulfilled with rain.  However, in drier seasons, it may be necessary for you to provide the water.  You should deeply water your lawn once a week during the early morning or early evening.  Watering your lawn more often will promote shallow roots and unhealthy soil.

  Getting your lawn off drugs is easy and will leave you with more time to enjoy your watershed.  Make the choice to promote a healthy environment by starting with a healthy lawn.