Conservation

Tips from Environment Massachusetts:

• Unplug electronics that have clock displays or panel display LEDs when you're not using them. Even cell phone chargers, with their two-pronged fangs, suck energy when left plugged into the wall.
• Turn off your computer if you're not going to use it for more than two hours.
• When buying new appliances and electronics, buy ENERGY STAR or comparably efficient products.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater to 115 or 120 degrees, depending on your need. This can save you 3-5% on electric bills.
• Detect air leaks around windows and doors, assess ventilation needs, and apply weatherstripping to these places. There are many types of weatherstripping to choose from.
• Call your electric utility and ask them to do an energy audit.

For more power-saving tips and estimates on household energy use, see: http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/energy/saving-energy?id4=ES 

From Healthy Lawns and Landscapes (from the Wayland Surface Water Quality Committee & the Water Water Department)

Simple Steps to Organic Lawn Care

The easiest, most cost-effective way to a beautiful, healthy lawn is to work with nature, not against it.  A healthy lawn needs nutrients and microbe-rich soil to develop deep rooted, dense turf that competes successfully with weeds.  Dense turf is beautiful and low-maintenance.  It naturally resists drought, insects and diseases.

Pesticides are not necessary for a beautiful lawn.  In fact, they can do more harm than good.  They kill the microbial life necessary for healthy soil and can kill pests' natural enemies.  This invites disease and insect infestation, which leads to more pesticide use and traps you in an unhealthy, costly chemical cycle.

Basic Lawn Care Tips

• spread 1/4" compost, or sprinkle organic fertilizer each fall.

• Seed with a mix of hardy grasses

• Mow high!  Keep mower blades sharp.

• Leave grass clippings on lawn as fertilizer

• Water only when soil is dry 6" down.  1" water per watering.

• Overseed in the spring and fall

• Adjust soil pH to about 6.8

Yearly Schedule

March and April

• Sharpen mower blades

• Raise mower blade to 3"

• Test soil:  UMass Soil Testing Lab

• Add soil amendments based on soil test

• Re-seed bare patches or apply corn gluten to prevent weed germination

• Always leave clippings on lawn to fertilize

May and June

• Check for weeds; pull out by hand.

• Re-seed bare spots

• Monitor for insect pests

• If you have grub damage, spot treat with milky spore (once every 10 years) and/or with beneficial nematodes (once yearly for 2 or 3 years)

August

You may allow your lawn to go dormant during drought.  It will green up after rain

September and October

• Best time to seed (generously)

• Fertilize if needed (sparingly) or top dress with 1/4" compost.

Managing Your Lawn Service

• Specify mowing high with sharp blades

• Request corn gluten and organic fertilizer instead of "Weed and Feed" products

• Refuse routine application of pesticides

• Beware if a lawn service tells you a chemical application is safe.  Federal EPA regulations prohibit manufacturers from making pesticide safety claims, even if used as directed.  All pesticides must be treated with caution.

• Never allow unidentified products to be used on your lawn.  Request safety information, and read it before application.  Look up toxicity at www.pesticide.org

• Be aware that chemicals listed as inert ingredients can be highly toxic.

• Take note:  many pesticides persist in lawns and soil long after the posted 24-72 hours.

• Ask for an organic program.  Know that an organic lawn can take up to 3 years to fully establish.

• Organic lawn care has been defined by the Northeast Organic Farming Associations in their Standards for Organic Land Care.  Order a copy from www.nofamass.org

• Organic lawn service is available in our area.  Check for current listings at http://www.organiclandcare.net/AOLCP/MA.php#Middlesex