Using chemicals responsibly
For some, the thought of giving up their tried-and-true, traditional, non-organic chemicals is inconceivable, and they’re just not ready or willing to take that step. To these weekend warriors I say look for safer ways to apply them, or at least please use them responsibly.

Responsible use of any lawn or garden chemical, be it synthetic or organic, requires that applications follow the guidelines listed by the manufacturer.  It’s right there on the label.  So, step one; Be sure to read it. 

For example, if the instructions say to mix one teaspoon per gallon of water, then it’s one teaspoon. Not two or ten. More is NOT better and often can actually be less effective! The mixing rates are highly tested and are engineered to be fully effective at the rates given.

Next, avoid applying insecticides in the morning or even well into the day. Otherwise, neutral and beneficial insects including any pollinators can be killed as well. They are very active throughout the day, starting in early morning.  It is crucial to avoid exposing them to insecticides intended only for true pests.  Unfortunately, non-selective controls can’t tell the difference, but you can.

If you can’t bring yourself to use more-selective options, then reserve your chemical use for as late in the day or evening as possible, when most pollinators have retired for the day.

What about mulch?
Speaking of chemicals, did you ever stop to think that those bags of mulch you just put down on your organic vegetable garden just might be made up of ground pallets and pressure-treated wood?  Chances are you’re at least familiar with the risk associated with using treated woods and the leaching of potentially hazardous chemicals. 

Thanks to years’ of work by the Mulch and Soil Council, industry standards have been adopted and are now in use by many retailers that purchase bagged mulch and soil products for sale to consumers. The goal of the Product Certification Program was developed in part to assist consumers in determining what products conform to the Voluntary Uniform Product Guidelines for Horticultural Mulches, Growing Media and Landscape Soils.

Now, consumers have a way of knowing which mulch and soil products are free of potentially hazardous materials by looking for the associated MSC Certified product label on products that meet these standards.

Tools that make a difference
Assuming you’re one of the diehards who just can’t seem to pull yourself away from the lawn products you’ve been using for years, at least now there’s a better way to make sure chemicals are applied only where intended.

Scotts-Miracle-Gro  offers a new lawn spreader called the Deluxe Edgeguard. The patented system provides an on/off control lever. When activated, a shield below the hopper prevents fertilizer or other lawn products from being thrown into landscaping or onto impervious hard surfaces such as streets and driveways and keeps chemicals out of creeks and lakes.

Once you get that lawn looking good, it’s time to mow. However, that standard gas engine mower you have pollutes as much as 40 late model cars when you use it for just one hour, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  A popular alternative today is to use a new version of that old reliable, the push-powered reel mower.   

Other gas-powered lawn and landscaping equipment, such as weed eaters and leaf blowers, are even bigger environmental polluters than lawn mowers!  Electric models of both are available as well as for lawn mowers.  Even untethered options exist today, thanks to rechargeable products that can do everything from till your garden to cutting down smaller trees!

Recycle and conserve
An important part to creating and having an eco-friendly garden is to practice sound environmental stewardship of our precious natural resources. One that is becoming scarcer by the day, it seems, is water —at least in many parts of the country.

Rain barrels are an effective and easy way to collect gallons of rain from downspouts. In times of watering restrictions, having an irrigation source on constant standby is a welcome resource!  Barrels can now be found at many garden centers as well as in gardening catalogues and online mail-order sources.

One clever innovation and recent contribution to the eco-friendly garden is the invention of CowPots™.  This is a clever idea of taking cow manure and converting it into plantable pots.  The pots last for moths when stored but once planted in the ground, break down within weeks and provide valuable organic nutrients along the way.

Similarly, decorative pots are now being made from recyclable, renewable, remarkable bamboo!  The containers come in many different styles and colors, are very decorative, yet decompose into organic waste once discarded.  This is yet another Earth-friendly way bamboo is being utilized today.

If you ever wondered where all those plastic milk jugs go that you’ve been dutifully recycling now for years, landscaping timbers are now being made of recycled plastic. They come with a 50-year warranty and will never rot or decay, nor will they ever leach potentially dangerous chemicals into the environment. 

Joe Lamp'l is the founder of joegardener.com, a Web site and company dedicated to providing smart resources to gardeners of all levels. In addition, Joe is the host of two national television shows, “GardenSMART” on PBS and “Fresh from the Garden” on the DIY Network, an author, Master Gardener and a Certified Landscape Professional.  For more information, visit www.joegardener.com.

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