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Eco friendly lawn care
When you care for your lawn and garden this spring, you could be harming the environment.
Many fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides contain potentially dangerous chemicals and toxins. These substances can seep into the groundwater or run off into rivers, lakes, streams and reservoirs, contaminating local drinking water sources.
"By using more environmentally friendly products and techniques, you can grow a beautiful lawn and garden - and protect your drinking water," said Raymond J. Raposa, executive director of the New England Water Works Association, the region's largest organization of water works professionals:
Use less fertilizer and lawn and garden chemicals.
Select environmentally safe lawn and garden products, or the least toxic option, whenever possible.
Read labels carefully and follow manufacturer's instructions exactly when using lawn and garden products.
Apply only the amount of fertilizer your plants require.
Avoid using more than the recommended amount of pesticide.
Build a compost pile for leaves and grass clippings; use compost to add organic nutrients to your soil.
Use mulch to control weeds and select disease-resistant plants to reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides.
Avoid mixing or using pesticides near a drinking water well.
Contact your local water utility to find out if your home is located near a water supply or a recharge area for a water supply.
Ask your lawn and garden supplier for help in selecting environmentally safe products or disease-resistant plants.
Remove grass and weeds from cracks in concrete areas manually, rather than pouring weed killer or gasoline on these areas.
For more information on environmentally friendly gardening
or other ways you can protect your drinking water sources, contact
your local water utility or the New England Water Works Association
at 508-893-7979 or visit the Web at www.newwa.org..http://www2.townonline.com/billerica/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=492391
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