Who thinks it's okay to put chemicals on your lawn?

Question

Who truly thinks that doing this does not hurt the fauna, pets, humans, etc...? And why is it so important to have a lawn with only one species of grass? (Kind of racist...LOL) Truly boring...and not healthy. Did you know that is part of the problem with the bees, butterflies (monarch's don't have any milkweed to lay eggs on...sigh), lack of bats to eat the mosquitos, etc...What about picking the childhood memory of picking clover blossoms to make necklaces? Seen any violets lately? What about making salads, wine, soup, coffee substite etc... out of dandelions? And WHO decided that we must spend all this money and time on such boring lawns....? YUCK! Ridiculous...and it's not good for any purpose at all... And don't tell me you need to get rid of the grubs by poisoning them with chemicals... There are other alternatives...or it's not even necessary...

Had to vent! Please post research supporting my stance and I'll vote you as best answer! :0)

Answer 1

With exception of a little teeny tiny bit of Round Up to kill a poison ivy vine I NEVER use chemicals on my lawn or garden.  I live by a creek and I will not have the chemicals getting into the water.  I hate the idea of birds eating grubs, etc that are tainted with poison.  Furthermore, when the label of a garden treatment tells me to wash my clothes after using it ,to not let is rest on my skin and not to breathe it I am not coming near it.  I had mildew on a plant and was reading some labels. That's what the label on one of the chemicals said.  Forget that!  There are natural alternatives.  For example, a mix of water and whole milk treats black spot on roses. Japense Beetles can be brushed off plants into a mix of soapy water.  Aphids can be crushed and killed without sprays.  Corn gluten, when applied to the lawn, aids in suppressing broadleaf weeds and acts as a fertilizer.  Crushed eggshells and garden grade diatamaceous earth will repel slugs.

We are just as susceptible to poison as the plant life and critters we seek to control.  I fail to see the logic in poisoning myself in the name of a "perfect" lawn.

Interesting you should mention wild violets.  I have them everywhere in my yard and they make me so happy in the springtime  :)  As for the Dandelions  :p  I used to have a lawn full of them and I just am not pleased with the look of them.  I would get a pail and pluck every last bloom.  Sometimes the blooms numbered in the hundreds on a daily basis.  Now I have an occasional bloom.  If you stop the blossoming process the plant cannnot reproduce.  And one Dandelion can reproduce tens of thousands of plants in a season if left unchecked.  But at least I am rid of them without affecting the environment.  That makes me happy.

Answer 2

I don't have the research but I choose not to spend my precious short time on this earth trying to have the greenest, most well manicured lawn.  We have a small back yard with lots of natural plants that grow well with no fertilizer treatment.  When we want wide open spaces and green grass we go to a park!  I could never afford, manage or feel good about maintaining a lush green spread - but I enjoy it when someone else does!  It is kind of like taking the bus.