Do you know these ten reasons to ditch your lawn and garden chemicals?
(Provided by the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA), as adapted from a fact-sheet by the Organic Landscape Alliance, Toronto, Canada.)
Chemical pesticides and fertilizers contaminate surface and groundwater
Chemical pesticides threaten the health of children
Chemical pesticides threaten the health of outdoor pets
Chemical pesticides threaten the health of local wildlife
Chemical pesticides and fertilizers reduce the activity of beneficial organisms
Local wildlife need safe places to live
Chemical fertilizers are a waste of money
Chemical pesticides have the potential to cause damage throughout their lifecycles
Chemicals actually degrade the over-all long-term health of your lawn and garden
Lawn chemicals are unnecessary
Get started:
Have your soil tested and request organic recommendations. Contact the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab.
Switch to organic fertilizers, ask your garden shop for information on how to use them.
Topdress your planting beds with a 2” layer of organic compost; work it into the top 6” of soil.
Pick off garden pests when they appear; use an organic pesticide for large infestations.
Rotate the placement of vegetables from year to year, to avoid build-up of pathogens in the soil.
Use a landscaping service that follows organic methods.
Get all the details:
The Suffolk County Water Authority has information on reducing water usage and sustainable lawn care.
See our page on for more resources on gardening in the SNAD.
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