Manhasset does not need any more toxins to further increase our already high cancer rates, neurological disorders (MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, ADHD), and other, now-rampant, diseases and disorders.
Many of these horrible illnesses are preventable if we know what to avoid. Last week’s Manhasset Times article, “Preparing Your Lawn for the Fall” offered three “solutions” for three lawn “problems” — lawn fungus, white grubs, greener grass. I strongly disagree with the “solutions” for these issues. Below are the three products advocated last week, their health consequences, and alternatives you can use to address lawn problems.
Cleary’s Fungicide Control was suggested for lawn fungus.
The warnings for this product are “Do Not Inhale,” “Do Not Get On Skin,” “Remove Contaminated Clothing.”
Do you really want this stuff on your lawn where people and wildlife can come in contact with it? Or have it breezing through the air where it can be inhaled?
It’s toxic stuff, and toxic stuff leads to many different illnesses.
Also recommended last week was Dylox 6.2 Granular Control for white grubs. This is a known carcinogen, known cholinesterase inhibitor (being looked at as the causal agent for ADHD, Alzheimers, and a few others). Very nasty stuff.
It is banned in several countries, and severely restricted in most of the First World.
Adding fertilizer high in nitrogen (32 percent) was advised for greener grass. The problem with this advice is the chain of events that it triggers.
Pollution is caused to our bay through fertilizer run-off, and our aquifer gets contaminated as fertilizer seeps into our water supply.
The “run-off” into our bay causes excess algae blooms, which eventually removes oxygen from the water and kills sea life.
We witnessed this this summer when a huge population of dead fish washed up on our shores.
In addition, consuming fish that have ingested excess nitrogen can lead to serious health consequences for small children and pregnant women.
Although opinions differ, the United States Environmental Protection Agency warns of the danger of nitrites causing methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby Syndrome) in infants and reports that excess nitrates in drinking water “has been linked to cancer and birth defects.”
Other possible links, according to a report published in Environmental Health Perspectives (February 2007), include insulin-dependent diabetes, central nervous system malformations, neural tube defects, and hyperthyroidism.
I would like to suggest healthier ways to take care of lawn problems:
Lawn Fungus — Use 1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda with one gallon of water and two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Shake well and spray the affected plants and turf blades.
Do this every day for three weeks. Or you can use one ounce of milk with a gallon of water, and do the same thing.
For white grubs – use milky spore grub control, or use nematodes this time of year before the cooler weather sends grubs into the soil beyond the reach of most nematodes.
For greener grass – use the mulch setting when mowing and redeposit grass clippings on the lawn. This provides natural nitrates that will not pollute our bay or aquifer. This also prevents grass from drying out and inhibits weed populations.
Bayles Garden Center in Port Washington has many organic, non-toxic products, and their staff is knowledgeable about healthy lawn options.
I’d like to mention that I believe I have the best lawn in my neighborhood. It is green and healthy.
There is no fungus, no brown spots, no bald spots. Not one chemical has been applied during the eight years I have lived here.
The secret is simple. Each spring I plant a few square feet of Zoysia plugs.
Zoysia grass is very hardy, drought resistant, and chokes out weeds. Zoysia spreads throughout the lawn over time.
In the winter it turns yellow, but does it really matter?
Our lawns are covered with snow for most of the winter. To prevent fungus, our lawn is not over-watered.
Zoysia does not need much water. Since we use only grass clippings as fertilizer, we don’t get brown spots from fertilizer burn.
Also, grubs have a hard time penetrating the thick Zoysia grass, so no pesticides are needed. We keep the grass slightly high so there is less sun for weeds to germinate, and the grass doesn’t dry out.
In the spring, I uproot dandelions by hand and spray diluted white vinegar into each hole to discourage reseeding.
I recently had a very scary and sad reminder of the harm we are doing to ourselves for the sake of our lawn.
One of my cats was out and decided to munch on someone else’s lawn. When I found him outside, he was having seizures and convulsing. This was a direct result of ingesting lawn chemicals.
Thankfully, he survived, but barely.
Denise Polis
Manhasset
