As you prepare for the family gathering on the patio, you look out over your beautiful garden: a weed-free emerald green lawn surrounded by beautiful aphid-free roses and flowerbeds full of large, juicy tomatoes on pristine plants. If this perfection is achieved without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, then well done! On the other hand, if you have been helping nature by using weed products and lawn fertilizers or complex treatments that fertilize flowers and vegetables while controlling insects and diseases, you may want to reconsider how you use your outdoor space. In addition to synthetic fertilizers, these multi-purpose products contain pesticides that can potentially harm children, pets, wildlife and the environment.
Fertilization refers to the addition of nutrients to the soil. Plants that grow in nature get their nutrients from air, water, soil minerals, and organic matter such as dead leaves, plants, microbes, and animals that die and decompose. This process improves the overall condition of the soil through the slow release of nutrients. The same is achieved by adding organic matter to the soil.
The most common fertilizers are synthetic in nature. They are made or refined with natural ingredients to make them more concentrated and come in forms that are readily available to plants. This form is typically high in salts and harmful to soil microbes. It produces lush, vigorous growth that encourages insect pests and disease problems. Pesticides – herbicides (herbicides), insecticides and fungicides – can also be added to fertilizers to “protect” the plant from pests and diseases.
Grass and feedstuffs are usually spread over the entire lawn. The tiny particles contain fertilizers and herbicides that slowly break down and release chemicals. Pesticides used on lawns can be accidentally ingested by your pets or children some time after application. Whether your dog is playing on the grass and then licks his fur, or your child is playing with toys on the grass and then unknowingly puts them in his mouth, both can absorb a small dose of the pesticide.
All-purpose products for daily care of flowers, fruits and vegetables contain chemical fertilizers and systemic pesticides that circulate throughout the plant to prevent disease or kill pests that might consume it. Imagine fluids moving through the tomato plant from roots to leaf tips, carrying the pesticide directly to the developing fruit or moving the plant to a favorite flower where it is ingested by bees as a potential poison. Loaded with pollen and then returned to the hive to pollute. Designed for the gardener's convenience, all-purpose products add unnecessary pesticides to your garden whether you need them or not. It's like taking an antibiotic every day in case you get an infection.
Is it still possible to have a beautiful garden while reducing or even eliminating the use of toxic chemicals? With the basics of eco-friendly gardening, it's entirely possible. Your lawn and other plants may not look perfect, but your yard will be much safer for everyone who calls it home.
• Add organic matter to the soil to provide essential nutrients for plants and habitats, as well as food for a variety of soil organisms.
• Cover the soil with organic mulch to protect it, improve soil structure and fertility, and improve the overall appearance of the area.
• Fertilize plants as needed; Apply material based on soil test results. Most trees, shrubs and perennials grow well without additional fertilizers.
• Use fertilizers and organic materials whenever possible.
• Implement an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to prevent pests altogether or reduce them to levels you can live with.
• If pesticides are needed, choose the most selective pesticide that does the job and is safest for other organisms and for air, soil and water quality.
For more information on fertilizers and environmentally friendly gardening techniques, visit the Marin Master Gardeners website at marinmg.ucanr.edu.
With support from UC Cooperative Extension, University of California Marin Master Gardeners are providing research-based information to home gardeners. Send your questions to helpdesk@marinmg.org. Attach photos for information about plant pests or diseases. Please call 415-473-4910 to find out when the Master Gardener will be in the office or to drop off samples at the sample box outside the office 24 hours a day. To attend a gardening seminar or sign up for Leaflet, a free quarterly e-newsletter, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu.
