Pesticide Reduction

Environment

Healthy Lawn Care

tips for a better, healthier lawn

Maintaining a healthy lawn doesn't have to be difficult or cost a lot of money. Try these tips for a lawn you can feel good about.

There's more than one way for your lawn to be healthy. Reducing or eliminating pesticides is definitely a healthy option for your family, pets, and neighbours. However, your lawn itself needs to be healthy and a healthy lawn is achieved by feeding the soil not the grass. Nourish the soil and most weeds will be crowded out over time.

Mow High
Leave grass 5 - 7.5 cm (2-3") tall and avoid mowing more than 1/3 of the grass blade. This shades the roots and helps prevent evaporation. It also helps your grass grow deep and strong roots that can overpower weeds and retain water. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn can provide about one-third of your lawn's nutrient needs and are a valuable source of organic matter.

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De-thatch
Thatch is a tough mixture of dead grass and roots that accumulate and form a layer at the soil surface. Excessive watering, nitrogen or pesticides may contribute to a situation where the thatch exceeds 1 cm. Excess thatch can be removed using a stiff rake or specialized de-thatching equipment.

Aerate
Aeration is the process of removing plugs of soil from your lawn. This creates spaces for air, water and nutrients to penetrate into the soil and promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms. It also increases water absorption and reduces surface runoff.

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Topdress
Topdressing involves spreading good quality topsoil or compost on top of your lawn. This adds organic matter and improves the condition of the soil. Topdressing is essential on bare areas and on lawns with little topsoil. Add 0.6 - 1.2 cm (¼ to ½) of topsoil or compost. Don't smother the grass blades.

Overseed
Overseeding is the process of adding grass seed to your lawn. Use a high quality mix suited to the area. Topdressing and seeding can be done together.

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Water Deeply
A Kamloops lawn doesn’t need to be watered every other day. It only requires about 2.5 cm (1") per week to keep it green (depending on weather and soil conditions). An empty tuna can is approximately 2.5 cm deep. Place several cans at different distances from your sprinkler. Time how long it takes to collect an average of 2.5 cm of water. Water this length of time once per week in the summer. Reduce this time by half for spring and fall-time.

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Fertilize
Fertilizing is important to overall grass health and is a very effective way to prevent weeds. Fertilizing provides the nutrients for a healthy, thick lawn that out-competes weeds. Choose slow release fertilizers that are much less likely to 'burn' the lawn. Check the package labeling to make sure the product is slow release and carefully follow the instructions. Avoid weed and feed and try feed and seed instead.

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Grass Alternatives
Many people are recognizing that there are beautiful and ecologically important alternatives to grass lawns.

Logo Contact
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
955 Concordia Way
Kamloops, BC V2C 6V3
ph (250) 828 3888
fax (250) 828 3640
email healthylandscapes@kamloops.ca

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