Maintenance dilemmas of a modern obsession by Nick Novick A bizarre and wasteful fetish to some, a proud achievement of a caring property owner for others, our modern “boring carpet of green” has become ubiquitous, accepted, and in some circles has even achieved status as an object of envy and desire. How we have come…
Lawn Care
Using Compost Tea on Turf
by Peter Schmidt Interest in making and applying Actively Aerated Compost Tea has grown tremendously in recent years, particularly in turf grass management. Many homeowners no longer wish to live in toxic environments, and many schools no longer allow the application of pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers. Compost Tea provides a way to manage turf and…
Native Lawn Options for California
by Josh Fodor California has received a welcome reprieve from the drought with above average rain fall this winter. Although we may not be faced with stringent outdoor water use restrictions this summer, now is a great time to plan for future dry years, which are sure to come. Installing and establishing drought tolerant landscapes…
Shade Gardening as an Alternative to Lawns
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…
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.
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.
The Basic Principles of Organic Lawns
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.
White Grubs in Turfgrass: Biology and Management
ELA presentation by Dr. Patricia J. Vittum, University of Massachusetts, Department of Entomology. Summary by Bruce Wenning, Horticulturist and Entomologist at The Country Club in Chestnut Hill, MA and Land’s Sake Consultant. Bruce also serves on the Ecological Landscape Alliance Board of Directors. The term “grub” generally refers to the immature or larval stage of…
Lawns – A Short Primer
Spring – Gypsum is used in areas where snow has been piled, where salt has been used and where people or vehicles may have cut corners or parked on the lawn during winter. Gypsum relieves soil compaction and the effects of salt by chemical binding it. It is better to use calcium chloride rather than…
Organic Lawn Care Basics
by Bruce Wenning Take a look at this grid that shows cultural methods that promote turfgrass growth and establishment, reduce insect and disease problems, and conserve water. Click here for a full pdf.
Controlling White Grubs Without Chemicals
by Bruce Wenning White grubs are insect pests of home lawns, athletic fields, parks, gardens and anywhere their preferred hosts grow. They live in soil, are C-shaped, have six legs, chewing mouthparts, and feed on turfgrass roots and the roots of other plants. Lawns that are attacked by these pests show poor vigor, thin turf,…
