Official: Healthy lawn should come naturally
N.B. environmental chairman offers tips for eco-friendly landscaping
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Mother Nature is often blamed for heat waves, winter blizzards and western tornadoes. However, letting nature take over can result in beautiful and environmentally beneficial landscaping.

According to Mark Hommer of the North Brunswick Environmental Commission, "greenscaping" can save time and money by letting the environment care for itself, with a little assistance from the human population. He suggested several simple, effective ways to achieve a lush landscape while helping to protect and preserve natural resources.

The first step, according to the chairman, is to make sure soil has the proper nutrients needed to grow healthy plants. Good soil is a living ecosystem unto itself, containing about 4 billion tiny organisms per teaspoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The organisms help loosen the soil structure and make room for air, water and plant root growth while making it easier for plants to use nutrients in the soil.

Therefore, Hommer said fertilizers should not be overused because they contribute to water pollution, as fast-moving runoff collects lawn chemicals that end up in streams and lakes. Instead, he said, soil can be fed by leaving grass clippings where they land, known as "grasscycling;" the organisms turn the clippings into free fertilizer, while saving all the work of raking and bagging.

Hommer also advised spreading natural compost over the lawn in the spring or fall.

"Compost is gardener's gold, and you can make it from stuff that's usually thrown away, like kitchen scraps, fallen leaves and other yard waste. In fact, about 30 percent of typical household waste can be composted," he said.

The pH of the soil also needs to be balanced, so residents can purchase a simple soil test kit either through the various local Rutgers Cooperative Extensions or at a garden supply store. Acidic soil can be balanced with limestone, which also helps improve the soil structure and increase drought tolerance.

In regards to having enough moisture, lawns should be watered in the morning when less evaporation occurs and they should be watered deeply and less frequently, according to Hommer. Also, rain barrels placed under downspouts can collect water for later use on the lawn and yard plants.

"The best place to take care of the environment is in our own backyards," commission Vice Chairperson Andy Besold said. "When we find ways to work in harmony with Mother Nature instead of wasting time and resources, everybody wins."

In addition, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions suggests that homeowners consider turf alternatives on steep slopes, shady areas or near streams and lakes, where it takes a lot of extra work to maintain grass. Instead, Kerry Miller, the ANJEC assistant director, recommends planting ground covers or leaving a buffer of dense native vegetation to filter and slow stormwater runoff around streams and lakes, prevent bank erosion and provide a welcoming habitat for birds and other wildlife.

"Many people are converting portions of their lawn to natural areas with shrubs, native grasses, wildflowers and trees," she said. "The result is less work, less greenhouse gas emissions from gas-powered lawn mowers and trimmers, and more groundwater recharge in natural areas, which absorb rain faster than turf."

For more information about environmental conservation tips, call Hommer at (732) 297-8982 or visit www.epa.gov/greenscapes.