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Beautiful Pesticide Free Yard
How do we make these changes?
As more and more people switch to using alternatives
to pesticides, it is becoming increasingly obvious that
it is possible to have a great looking yard and lawn
without the use of these poisons. A return to
cultural practices, to caring for the soil, is behind
the success. Healthy soil means healthy plants,
and healthy plants are naturally more resistant to
disease and weeds. The city of Waterloo has a very
successful program using Plant Health Care, which has
eliminated the need for pesticides in that city's parks
and green spaces.
The ideal, in our dry climate, it to get rid of your
water guzzling Kentucky blue grass lawn and move to
native species plants. Many of these plants are
beautiful and much more interesting than an expanse of
high maintenance green lawn. These plants are
hardy and do very well in our dry, sometimes harsh
climate, requiring very little of our most precious
resource: water. For the more creative,
eliminating a little lawn each year and creating a
lovely water wise garden, can give a sense of
fulfillment and environmental stewardship.
Remember, weeds or insects are a symptom of a
problem. A few weeds or insects in your yard does
not mean that you have a problem or that a pesticide is
needed.
11 Steps to a Healthy Lawn
- Healthy lawns need healthy soil
- Choose the right grass
- Mow high to discourage weeds
- Grass cycle - mulch your grass clippings
- Accept some weeds
- Consider alternative plants in areas of your yard-
ground covers, shrubs, wild flowers
- Aerate - let your lawn breathe
- Water to the roots - water less often and deeply
- Top-dress and fertilize
- Remove thatch if necessary
- Control weeds and insects naturally - corn gluten
meal is a researched product, used to control
dandelions.
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More Information
For more in-depth information go to Pesticide
Free Yards website or pick up the Sierra Club's
brochure.
You can also download a few of the following files
that will help you advertise your new lifestyle change.
 | Pesticide Free Lawn Sign ( 
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| Pesticide Information Bookmark (
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Unfortunately we have become a society of weed
neurotic people. We have bought into the myth that
the only beautiful lawn is the one that looks like a
golf course green and we have created a monoculture
environment, forgetting the beauty of
biodiversity. We cannot continue to poison
everything we don't like in the name of this myth.
Choose the proactive path and educate yourself on the
alternatives to pesticides. You will be working to
protect the health of your children, your pets and
yourself, as well as the health of the environment.
Join the growing movement and "spread the
word" about the many benefits of a Pesticide Free
Yard.
Take Action
| Contact your alderman to ask for a Pesticide Free
Calgary. Let them know that you would especially like
to see schoolyards, playgrounds, and playing fields
Pesticide Free.
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| The city of Toronto is presently in the process of
implementing a by-law, driven by the Board of Health,
because of the many health concerns. Let your alderman
know you would like to see the same thing happen in
Calgary. Our elected representatives don't know what
we want unless we tell them. They assume people are
happy with the way things are if they don't hear
otherwise. If you are concerned, it is important to
let your voice be heard.
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| Go to Take
Action! for more information of how to communicate
effectively with elected officials. |
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