Articles Posted in May, 2010
Shade Gardening as an Alternative to Lawns in Shaded Areas
By Judy Eisenberg
Reprinted by permission of the author and of the Somerville Journal
Growing the perfect healthy lawn free of crabgrass and weeds in shady areas requires high maintenance care, excess watering, and the use of chemicals and pesticides that are damaging to the environment. You can certainly grow your lawn organically, but consider replacing the grass growing in the shade with native groundcover, plants or shrubs. Read more »
Posted May 15, 2010 under Forest plants, Lawn Care, Native Plants, Shade.
Thoughts on Organic Lawn Care
By Roger Sturgis
Organic lawns are the way to go. The “Scott’s” perfectly green, weed-free carpet should not be the pride of the neighborhood. However, it takes a confident neighbor to put up with the suburban scorn for a less-than-perfect lawn. Read more »
Posted May 15, 2010 under General, IPM Integrated Pest Management, Lawn Care, Organic.
Lawn Alternatives
by Elizabeth Gross
The best way to create an alternative to the traditional lawn is to practice what my family calls the ‘Pluck & Chuck’ method. I hope you, too, will want to try it. Read more »
Posted May 15, 2010 under Lawn Care, Pollinators, Weeds and Weeding, Wildlife Habitats.
Going Organic
by Frank Koll
Maintaining organic lawns and gardens is based on some key principles that guide land care professionals to manage and take care of your landscape. Read more »
Posted May 15, 2010 under Balanced Ecosystems, Ecological Maintenance, General, Lawn Care, Native Plants, Organic, Shade, Soil.
Gleanings…
Conservation Fund Accepting Entries for Kodak American Greenways Program
Grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 will be awarded to land trusts, local governments, and other organizations working to create or improve a greenway, trail, or waterway in the United States. For 2010, the program anticipates awarding up to 50 percent of the grants to greenways projects that involve natural, cultural, and/or socio-political historical themes. This year’s application deadline is June 15th.
Link to Greenways Program Application
Farmers Cope With Round-Up Resistant Weeds
Just as the heavy use of antibiotics contributed to the rise of drug-resistant supergerms, American farmers’ near-ubiquitous use of the weedkiller Roundup has led to the rapid growth of tenacious new superweeds. Link to full article at NYTimes.com
May 22 is International Biodiversity Day
The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend. Read More
Grant Applications Invited for Invasive Plant Control — National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The Pulling Together Initiative seeks proposals that will help control invasive plant species, mostly through the work of public/private partnerships such as Cooperative Weed Management Areas.
Pre-proposal deadline is June 30. Read the request for proposals…
Posted May 15, 2010 under Biodiversity, Chemical Pesticides and Herbicides, Grants and Fundraising, Green Spaces -- Public, Invasives.
Letter from the Editor
Recently I discovered a home in a nearby neighborhood where the owners have transformed their front yard into a colorful display of nothing but tulips. It’s breathtaking, as ethereal as a painting by Monet. Read more »
Posted May 15, 2010 under Letter From the Editor.