Environmentally Smart Lawn Care
By Skip Richter - Lower South

All land drains to some body of water. We can all learn how to maintain beautiful lawns and gardens while avoiding needless damage to the environment. There is a debate here in the south over the role lawns should play in the future of our landscapes. Some say turfgrass is environmentally unsound and should be minimized or eliminated. Others tout its environmental contributions. Alas there are truths to be gleaned from both sides of the debate and some great points to guide us in how we plan and maintain our landscapes. Let's consider a few practical tips for insuring that your lawn and landscape is not contributing to problems in your local environment.
But first let's take a look at the issues at hand. Turf detractors point to the illogic of using drinking water to maintain large expanses of turf in light of current water shortages in many areas and future projections for even greater shortages. They also point to the fact that runoff from lawns, golf courses, and urban landscapes is usually much higher in nitrates and certain chemicals used for weed and pest control that runoff in rural areas. These chemicals impact the quality of our streams and underground aquifers.
Turf defenders point out that grass contributes positively in many ways. It absorbs heat and mitigates the urban "heat island" problem. It captures rainfall and reduces erosion and runoff. It reduces glare and generally adds to the aesthetic quality of our homes and landscapes. And a beautiful lawn is such a part of our southern mindset that it just is not going to go away overnight.
We'll certainly not end the debate here, but I would like to offer some tips that will make a difference on the impact your lawn has on the environment:

Appropriate Lawn Size
Large expanses of turf require more inputs of time, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. Consider limiting turf areas to where the family gathers and plays. Outlying areas might be candidates for drought-tolerant groundcovers or, in the case of larger properties, a natural zone.

Drought-Tolerant Turfgrasses
Turf species differ in their ability to tolerate drought and bounce back again. Some, such as Buffalograss, are very drought tolerant but are not vigorous enough to compete with weeds in most non-arid southern areas. Zoysia and Bermuda exhibit good drought tolerance. St. Augustine does not, but it's well adapted to very shady areas where its water use drops dramatically. So don't rule it out completely.

Wise Watering
Too many sprinkler systems are set to give turf a little drink every couple of days. Provide a good soaking (1/2 to 1 inch) every week or so in the heat of summer. This allows the turf to dry out between waterings and promotes a deep root system.

Moderate Fertilizing
Fertilizer tends to be overapplied and mistimed. Apply only 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn. Excessive amounts promote top growth at the expense of roots and predispose our lawns to certain insect and disease problems. Warm-season turf species need their first application when you have mowed the turf (not weeds) twice. Earlier applications just feed winter weeds and wash away by the time the sleepy-headed turf wakes up from winter.
During summer months the clippings decompose to really boost nutrition, so summer fertilization is rarely needed. Some turf experts recommend a mid-fall application.

Don't Fertilize the Street
Fertilizer that lands on your lawn grows green grass. That which lands on the driveway and street washes off to grow a green creek (algae). Apply it carefully and sweep it from hardscapes back onto the lawn after you fertilize.

Can't We All Just Get Along?
Weeds to me are just a few occasional green things that I mow like I do my lawn. To some they are invaders that must die in a succession of chemical warfare attacks! The stronger you build your turf, the fewer weed problems you will have. Herbicides should be a last resort, not part of our annual lawn care activities. When a weed persists despite efforts to build a dense turf, check with your County or Parish Extension Office for proper identification and a recommendation for an appropriate, labeled product and application timing. Too many people waste time and damage the environment using the wrong product at the wrong time or in the wrong way.
Follow these tips for a healthy, beautiful lawn and a healthier environment as well.