Which products are best for your lawn?

Through the years, researchers have discovered health risks associated with using chemical lawn care programs. As a result, many homeowners have turned to more natural alternatives to treat their lawns. The question remains – are natural products as effective? Paradise Lawns would like to assure you that you can indeed have a healthy, thick, green, weed-free lawn without using harsh chemicals. Let’s explore your options.

Organic/Natural Lawn Care Program

There are many benefits to using organic/natural lawn care products; safety for your family and the environment are two important ones. Knowing it is completely safe for children and pets ranks as the primary reason most homeowners seek out organic lawn care methods. When you use natural products, you no longer have a wait period to enter your yard after a treatment. Your family can enjoy your lawn immediately after application.  Organic/natural lawn care products are also good for the environment overall. They won’t pollute waterways after a rain and are better absorbed into the soil.

You may still be wondering how well it works on your lawn. Organic/natural products are more beneficial than chemical treatments because they add nutrients to your soil versus killing the microorganisms that live below the surface.  Having healthy, happy soil results in stronger grass roots and fewer weeds. Healthy soil is more drought resistant, so you will not need to water your lawn as frequently.  According to the Big Blog of Gardening, “using organic lawn care products can help reduce your yard’s water needs by more than fifty percent. It increases the sponginess of your soil which means your lawn turf can grow thicker, deeper roots. Grass with thicker roots tend to fare far better when droughts hit, so your lawn and garden are going to be set even if your neighbor’s lawn starts looking brown and dry.”

Chemical/Synthetic Lawn Care Program

Not all chemical/synthetic lawn care products are created equal. Paradise Lawns carefully researches product contents to ensure safety for our clients. Our chemical/synthetic lawn care program uses reduced risk weed control products. Reduced risk weed control products are safer than commonly used products in the lawn care industry. They are tracked by The Office of Pesticide Program’s Conventional Reduced Risk Pesticide Program. This EPA department compiles data on “pesticides that pose less risk to human health and the environment than existing conventional alternatives.” Paradise Lawns uses these products on an as-needed basis to treat problem areas only when needed. We avoid over applying these products, or applying in a routine sweep, so you don’t have to worry about compromising your grass and soil’s health.

Hybrid Lawn Care Program

Paradise Lawns offers a hybrid lawn care program that combines organic/natural lawn care products with chemical/synthetic applications as needed. Think of the organic/natural products for your lawn like your daily multivitamins. By taking them regularly, your health and immune system benefits. However, when you have a cold or are ill, you may require stronger medicine. This is like treating your lawn’s problem areas with reduced-risk chemical/synthetic products. With targeted and swift treatment using the right product, your lawn can return to its optimum healthy state. Plus, applying only as needed, you avoid risk to the microorganisms that help your lawn thrive.

What Paradise Lawns Doesn’t Use

Green, lush lawns have been important since the 1950’s, especially in suburban neighborhoods. In order to achieve the perfect lawn, more and more chemicals have been introduced over the years to fertilize and combat weeds. These unnatural products may have produced short-term desired effects, but in the long run, many were found to damage lawns. They also have been found to be harmful to people, animals and the environment. Here are some facts showing just how dangerous using unsafe chemical products can be.

Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 16 are linked with cancer or carcinogenicity, 12 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 25 with liver or kidney damage, 14 with neurotoxicity, and 17 with disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system. In addition to waterways being impacted, wildlife and pollinators are at risk too. 60-70 million birds die from pesticide poisoning each year in the US alone.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)

The herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has been used as a weed killer since the 1940’s and has been “linked to cancer, reproductive harm and neurological impairment.” It is one of two main ingredients in Agent Orange (2,4,5-trichloropheoxyacetic acid is the other). Each year 46 million pounds of 2,4-D are used in U.S. agriculture and lawn care according to the EPA.  You may be thinking that you will just avoid using 2,4-D and all will be okay, but it’s not that simple, because it is an ingredient in many common products such as Scotts Turf Builder. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists nearly two dozen products containing the chemical.

Make the switch with Paradise Lawns

Paradise Lawns offers organic/natural, chemical/synthetic and hybrid lawn care programs. Our chemical/synthetic lawn care program uses reduced risk weed control products that are safer than products commonly used in our industry. We closely monitor and research all products used and promise to never use any harsh chemicals that have been linked to cancer or other health issues. Check out our FAQ page for answers to common questions or give Paradise Lawns a call at 402-612-1527. Ready to make a great change? Click here to set up a consultation and learn how you can have a healthy, thick, and green weed-free lawn without using harsh chemicals.