Why not use chemical fertilizers?
There are millions of highly beneficial organisms living in
the soil. They play a critical role in assisting plants obtain moisture and nutrients
while helping to combat insect and disease pests. Chemical fertilizers harm or destroy
these vital beneficial organisms. Chemical fertilizers do not take into account the
natural soil fertility. This usually results in the use of inappropriate fertilizer
ingredients creating nutrient toxicities and deficiencies.
Most chemical fertilizers are fast acting which can burn
plant roots and sometimes kill them. Fast release chemical fertilizers generate rapid,
deep green leaf growth that may look very attractive. However, the fast growth results in
weak imperfectly formed leaves that are very susceptible to pest attack. This often
results in pest damage and the need for costly pest control treatments.
LRC's organic fertilization program uses the proper
combination and amounts of natural fertilizer materials custom designed to improve and
enhance the fertility of your soil. The result is a more fertile soil and healthier pest
resistant plants. Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly. They are not harmful to
plant roots. The growth of beneficial soil organisms is stimulated and plant growth is at
a normal rate assisting in natural pest resistance.
Are lawn and landscape pesticides safe?
The health and environmental safety of pesticides is
unknown. Agricultural chemicals (in particular pesticides) have not been adequately
tested. Ninety percent of the pesticides registered for use by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) are missing safety tests required for registration. The U.S.
General Accounting Office (GAO) claimed that 32 out of the 34 most widely used products on
turf are lacking health and safety data required for registration. Anne Bloom of Public
Citizen stated at a U.S. Congressional inquiry, "Of the 40 pesticides that compromise
over 95% of the chemicals used by commercial lawn care firms, 12 are suspected
carcinogens, 21 have been shown to cause long-term health effects in lab animals or
humans, and 20 have been shown to cause short-range damage to human central nervous
systems."
Chemical lawn care firms claim the
materials they use are safe. Are these claims justified?
No! The U.S. General Accounting Office believes the
chemical lawn care industry makes inappropriate safety claims in advertisements and verbal
communications with the public. (i.e., "Practically non-toxic," "Safe to
use", "Our products are practically non-toxic"). At a congressional hearing
associate director for GAO, Peter F. Guerrero, testified, "We believe that the public
should be protected from pesticide advertisements that convey the impression of safety...
The (lawn care) industry continues to make advertising claims that its products are safe
or non-toxic while federal enforcement actions against such claims remain limited."
Many landscape care companies state the chemicals they use
are approved by EPA. That is deceptive and untrue. EPA does not approve any chemicals but
only registers them. Registration is by no means a statement of approval or of safety.
Are pesticides necessary to maintain a healthy,
green lawn and landscape?
No! A properly managed, totally organic landscape
maintenance systems typically do not require the use of pesticides! Increasing numbers of
university studies from around the country are confirming that a properly designed organic
fertilization and management program can prevent many lawn and landscape diseases while
choking out weeds. Healthy plants living in a soil with an abundance of beneficial
organisms are better able to resist insect pests.
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Why maintain your
landscape organically?