Lhfas1Forget pesticides! It’s not hard to have a beautiful pesticide- , all you need is a bit of time and a little elbow grease.

  • Did you know that grass actually grows best when certain kinds of organisms are present? Forget shooing them off (she says politely, knowing full well that pesticides do much more than shoo…), let them play! Earthworms and (heh, poop) material that releases nutrients into the roots of the grass helping it grow! (via)
  • Mow your at the high end of its range — that way the roots have a chance to really develop. Deeper root systems can tolerate drought, heat, shade, disease, and pests much better. (via)
  • Leave the grass clippings on your ! I know, I know — you don’t like how it looks, right? But trust me, it adds nutrients and organic matter to your soil. Researchers have estimated that grasscycling reduces need by 25%! Saves you money and effort and keeps grass clippings out of landfills too. (via here and here)
  • Don’t overwater — I mean, not only is it a huge of water (this is a personal pet peeve of mine) but overwatering helps weeds grow, causes oxygen starvation of grass roots, and makes your ’s roots shallow. Eep! Here’s a hint: If the two inches of your are dry, then it’s time to water. If not, leave it alone! (via)

According to the University of California’s integrated pest management program, “A vigorously growing turf resists pest damage and weed invasion.” So keep it growing healthy and strong and you shouldn’t have any need for pesticides!

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