We are proud to offer some new door hangers to help spread the word to your neighbors, friends and family on how it's easy to create a healthy landscape for your family, pets, and the birds and the bees! We will be handing these out at our events and plant swaps, so be sure to pick a couple up! Check out our door hanger below and view our More Play, Less Spray page packed with helpful information and resources for creating a safe landscape »
Want to print these out? Download our Door Hanger PDF »
Here's the text from our Door Hanger: Managing our yards with non-toxic methods (instead of synthetic fertilizers and weed-and-feed products) is essential to protecting your family and Colorado’s biodiversity.
Pesticides used to manage school grounds, parks, and yards can be linked to cancer, endocrine/immune disruption, reproductive effects, neurotoxicity, kidney/liver disease, respiratory illness, and congenital disorders.
Children are particularly sensitive to pesticide exposure due to their smaller and developing bodies. Other vulnerable populations like the elderly, low-income and historically marginalized communities also faceincreased risk.
Pets, too, are vulnerable. Lawn chemicals are linked to two types of canine cancers and can contribute to seizures, rashes, skin allergies, and in some cases, death.
Pesticide-treated flowers can harm pollinators years after application, have been linked to massive bee losses, and kill beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Pesticide use impacts birds too! A single pesticide-coated seed can kill a songbird if ingested.Insects including caterpillarsare baby bird food – please don’t poison them.
SWITCHING TO ORGANIC IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK!
SIMPLY:
Avoid pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) and seek out non-chemical alternatives.
Convert part or all of your lawn to a pollinator-friendly pocket prairie of local grasses and wildflowers.
Incorporate native wildflowers that bloom throughout the growing season and support the widest array of native pollinators.
STEPS TO CREATING A HEALTHY LAWN
Rather than using weed & feed products, do this instead:
Test the soil
Soil health is essential to creating a healthy lawn or garden. Understanding nutrient and pH levels can guide management decisions. Contact your state extension center to test your soil!
Aerate
Compacted soil is ripe for weed growth. Aerate your lawn to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate more deeply into the root zone.
Apply Compost
Once you’ve determined soil needs, add the appropriate nutrients to encourage growth and root development. Do this by leaving grass clippings on your lawn, adding organic compost and applying slow-release organic fertilizers.
Over-seed
Over-seeding your lawn with regionally appropriate high-quality seed promotes a dense turf that can out-compete weeds.
Mow High & Mow Less Often
Proper watering and mowing high encourages deep, drought-resistant root systems. If you can tolerate beneficial weeds like clover and dandelions, mow every other week rather than weekly to provide early season food sources for pollinators.
Water Wisely
Generally, lawns should be kept at 3-3 ½ inches, while watering deeply once a week should be sufficient.
Use a Lawn Service? Ask them to use these methods and avoid toxic weed and feed products.
For more tips on creating a safe landscape for everyone, visit our More Play, Less Spray page that is packed with helpful information and resources.
