Letters

Featured Letter: Organic lawns don’t require more time, money

Organic lawn care on North Fork
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Master gardener Nancy Gilbert cuts back last year’s leaves on a Hellebore in bloom in her yard in Jamesport. Witch Hazel and Snowdrops are very early blooming plants next to the Hellebores.

To the editor:

Carrie Miller’s recent article on lawn care was excellent, but readers may have gotten the impression that “organic” lawns require more time and money. I disagree.

The most important tips I got from experts at Cornell take no time, require no products and cost nothing (they actually save money):

1. Raise the mower. Cutting grass to a minimum height of 3” yields a healthier lawn.

2. Mulch the clippings. Paying to have cuttings removed costs more in labor and more in fuel and creates a waste problem. Most important, it removes nutrients from the property. Steps 1 and 2 significantly reduce the need for fertilizer, whether organic or regular.

3. Water less. One or two deep watering sessions per week builds deeper roots and a stronger lawn than running sprinklers for short periods every day or two.

Many pros agree that these are the best first steps toward a natural, sustainable lawn. I’ve found the results have been striking in terms of lawn quality and maintenance costs. The one caveat is that some landscapers view mulching as a nuisance, as they need to change blades and habits. If more customers request mulching, it will become routine.

As for the comment that “there’s no organic thing to spray” on a dandelion, Burn-Out Weed Killer is very effective; it’s a convenient spray bottle and the main ingredients are citric acid and clove oil. There are plenty of similar options.

Larry Simms, South Jamesport

To read more letters to the editor, pick up a copy of this week’s Riverhead News-Review on newsstands or click on the E-Paper.