By Wendy Thanisch
Wendy@atGeist.com
While Geist residents are itching for the return of warm weather, area merchants and lawn service companies are preparing to start the spring growing season by mailing out ads and contract renewals to their existing customers. This spring, however, the Geist Watershed Alliance want residents to be informed about their choices as they begin making decisions concerning how they will maintain their lawns.
A number of new lawn care options are available this year to homeowners wanting to protect the water quality of the lake. “It’s important that we get the word out about the harmful effects of traditional chemical lawn fertilizers before spring so residents can do what it takes to prevent another toxic algae problem this year,” states Steve Nagy of the alliance’s Outreach and Awareness Committee. “I know people really would like to do the right thing to improve the health of the lake. They just don’t always know what to do.”
That’s why the alliance is researching to identify watershed-friendly solutions. They plan on analyzing a variety of lawn care products to determine if they are suitable to receive a “Geist Watershed Alliance Seal of Approval,” explains Dave Sylvester, one of the alliance’s original organizers. “In the future, homeowners can expect to find products and services certified as safe for the reservoir.
A committee has formed to undertake the research process, but it’s still too early to conclusively recommend specific products and services. In the meantime, for the purpose of this article, a few local lawn service companies were contacted in order to report some initial data to help homeowners make wiser choices.
Curb Appeal Outdoor Services is a full-service lawn maintenance company which offers mowing services as well as ‘Nature Safe’ organic fertilizers, several of which contain no phosphorus – the main nutrient responsible for last year’s blue-green algae. Al Peterson, the company’s owner, is passionate about watershed protection, and specifically chooses to use ‘Nature Safe’ fertilizers on his customers’ lawns because they are “all natural, effective and safe for people, pets and lakes.” Ninety percent of his current customers prefer that he use non-chemical fertilizers, and it is his goal to convert all of his customers to organic products by this time next year.
“The key to having a beautiful green lawn using an organic program is to build a healthy root system that doesn’t need excessive nutrients for the brilliant green effect,” Al points out. “Curb Appeal Outdoor Services achieves this by mowing the lawn to the proper height and by using non-water-soluble nitrogen which stays in the lawn and releases over time without running off when it rains.”
Homeowners interested in joining Al’s loyal customer-base (many live on Morse Reservoir) can find out more by calling 800-287-2277. You may want to ask about Curb Appeal’s ‘family-friendly fertilization program.’ If you are considering insect control, Al points out that April 1st begins the brief window of opportunity to effectively treat against them.
NaturaLawn is another lawn fertilization company which specializes in organic lawn treatment and offers the additional service of biennial soil analysis to ensure the turf is receiving exactly what it needs to keep grass healthy and green. Don Havey, the company’s local service provider, explains that NaturaLawn has a history of working with watershed groups. Among their many non-chemical options, they offer a phosphorus-free program, aeration, and grub and insect control which is applied during July.
Tony Besecker, a regional manager with NaturaLawn, states their products were developed specifically to address environmental issues. They have been in business since the mid-1980s and were the first national company to offer organic lawn care to homeowners. Residents interested in NaturaLawn services can call Don Harvey for a free estimate at 317-356-5296.
TruGreen now offers several programs that should interest watershed-concerned residents. According to Bob Avenius, TruGreen’s Region Technical Manager, homeowners can now choose between an organic or traditional chemical fertilizer program, both of which provide phosphorus-free options. He explains that his company also takes an additional measure to protect lakes; they leave a 3 foot buffer zone from the edge of the water when applying fertilizer.
To minimize a property’s adverse impact on the lake, Mr. Avenius recommends being vigilant about other common sources of nutrients that can reach the lake either through a storm water system or direct run-off. For instance, grass clippings, leaves and other organic matter blown into the street wash down storm drains which often lead directly to the lake, or into other waterway that links with it. Another common problem is when sediment from soil and bank erosion enters the lake.
Along with better lawn fertilization practices, homeowners can install runoff and soil erosion prevention measures that double as beauty enhancements. Updated irrigation controls with rain sensors, drainage improvements, rain gardens and patios with porous pavers are features recommended by landscape designer, Steve Hiner, who owns Good Nature, Inc. For people planning a backyard beautification project this summer, Steve invites you to contact him at 336-7200 to learn more about how proper landscaping can protect the lake. You can also visit his website www.GoodNatureInc.com for further information.
