What is the harm?
- Pesticides run off into waterways and harm the aquatic ecosystem and food chain; disrupting oxygen levels and polluting drinking water.
- Pesticides kill honeybees, ladybugs, butterflies and other important insects crucial to our environment.
- Pesticides have been linked to cancer, autoimmune diseases, and many other health problems for adults.
- Pesticides are especially harmful to developing children. Prenatal and early childhood exposure have been linked to birth defects, developmental delays, an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and cancer.
What can I do?
- Stop treating your lawn with poison. For spot treatment of small weeds, use a solution of white vinegar + water. Be careful to only saturate weeds.
- Nutrient deficient lawns are more susceptible to weeds. Test your soil to determine the nutrient needs of your lawn and fertilize accordingly.
- A healthy lawn with dense, deep roots will make it difficult for weeds to grow. Regular mowing at the recommended height keeps it healthy and encourages it to grow thickly. Watering deeply and infrequently promotes deep root growth.
- Learn to embrace the different kinds of medicinal herbs and flowers that will return. Enjoy violets, wild daisies, crocuses, dandelions, clover, plantain, purslane, mullein, and so many more!
Resources
Here are some of our favorite tools to help you take care of your lawn naturally…
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