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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Trail man allegedly hit mother with hatchet Clash with officers lands Medford man in jail on multiple charges UO students offered antibiotics after death of acrobatics athlete 10 things to know for Wednesday Emergency services, Feb. 18 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Trail man allegedly hit mother with hatchet Clash with officers lands Medford man in jail on multiple charges Emergency services, Feb. 18 Emergency Services, Feb. 17 Emergency services, Feb. 16 Politics and Elections Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Community leaders saddened by governor's departure Education Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Medford School Board OKs full-day kindergarten Former superintendent sues district, board member Environment Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow Company fined for illegally dumping asbestos in White City Solar pavilion going up at Coyote Trails GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban State News Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Oregon Senate advances low-carbon fuel law Brown says inauguration speech will focus on restoring trust in government Oregon chub first fish to be officially taken off endangered list Day of transition in Oregon Legislature as Kitzhaber's exit nears Nation - World Obituaries Arthur �Art� S. 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Letters to the Editor, Feb. 17 Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Editorials Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Our View: A sad end to a historic career Our View: Time to end the vaccine exemption Our View: Hemp hemp, hooray — old crop is new again Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 17 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 16 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 15 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 13 Columns Islamic State's atrocities demand ... what? Michael Gerson: A call for 'patient pluralism' Kathleen Parker: No excuse for juicing the story Dana Milbank: Remembering the remarkable Kayla Mueller George Will: Curb your pessimism about terrorism Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Season Stepp: Cooking Chinese food should not intimidate you Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune Page H. Onorato: Food items help define the South Debbie Snyder: Fleas annoy you and your pet Brent St. Germain: King cake is my kryptonite Food Season Stepp: Cooking Chinese food should not intimidate you Page H. Onorato: Food items help define the South There's a whole universe of chili outside Texas Citrus sensations Community blog: It's time to lavish love on heart-healthy lentils Home and Garden Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Home Help: DIY home upkeep projects for every season Health Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines Community blog: Your Brain on Love Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Community blog: Are You Losing or Gaining on Your Investment in Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Milestones and Achievements New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories The music that made Paris famous SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Much Ado About Nothing' kicks off OSF's 2015 season Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Much Ado About Nothing' kicks off OSF's 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' Music The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra 'Broadway's Next Hit Musical' Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Dining The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Trail man allegedly hit mother with hatchet ... Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor ... UO students offered antibiotics after death of acrobatics athlete ... Trail man allegedly hit mother with hatchet ... Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor ... UO students offered antibiotics after death of acrobatics athlete ... Creating organic lawns You can celebrate Earth Day by beginning the transition to organic fertilizers that foster healthier grass and help conserve the environment, say Rogue Valley experts Lush, green lawns add aesthetics and coolness to any yard, but what happens to the pesticides and fertilizer it takes to grow them? Comment By john darling MailTribune.com By john darling Posted Apr. 22, 2008 @ 12:01 am By john darling Posted Apr. 22, 2008 @ 12:01 am » Social News Lush, green lawns add aesthetics and coolness to any yard, but what happens to the pesticides and fertilizer it takes to grow them? They get washed into Bear Creek, the Rogue River and eventually the ocean every time you water, harming fish and prompting algae growth that robs streams of oxygen. But starting today, Earth Day, lawn growers can avoid using harsh chemicals by creating a few new, eco-friendly habits, says Ajit Singh of Phoenix Organics in Phoenix. They include aerating lawns and applying mycorrhizal bacteria, which stimulate growth of natural soil organisms, then sprinkling organic, all-purpose fertilizer, which feeds the soil all it needs. The idea is that you feed the soil, not the grass. Healthy soil, fed by compost and natural fertilizer, creates thick, weed-resistant grass, has higher resistance to pests and drought, and the runoff doesn't hurt streams and fish, Singh says. Chemicals kill healthful soil bacteria, he adds. A 50-pound bag of organic fertilizer is $35 and feeds 5,000 square feet. It should be applied at the beginning of spring, two months later and again before winter. Singh advises getting in the compost habit. Dispose of all plant waste in a compost bin, where it breaks down and recycles into lawn and garden food. Put a half-inch of this on soil at the start of the season. Healthy grass, composted and unladen by artificial chemicals, resists weeds, so applying herbicides isn't necessary. In transitional lawns that are recovering from a chemical diet, there will be some weeds, notes Singh, and the best way to get rid of them is the old-fashioned way — by pulling them out. "Lawn converted from chemical use has less of a weed problem as the roots get stronger and you're introducing good bacteria," Singh says. "Once the root system is strong, it can compete successfully with weeds." If it's a new lawn, mix compost in the top 2 to 4 inches of soil, add the mycorrhizal material, then add 10 pounds of organic fertilizer per 1,000 square feet, spread low-maintenance grass seed and let it germinate, he says. Another tactic that reduces water waste and runoff is to adjust your mower upward and keep your grass 3 or 4 inches high. With thicker, higher grass, your soil stays more moist, your grass better watered and you won't have patchy die-offs. Richard Ulrich, who runs an Ayurvedic Center in Phoenix, uses Singh as his "lawn doctor." Ulrich applies bags of Natural Intention NPK-934 (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) on his half-acre of lawn. "It's a carpet of grass. Sometimes I can't believe I live here. The seed is from the Grange (Co-op), made of three types of hardy rye, specifically for this valley." People come to the Ayurvedic Center for health-related needs and the grounds must be as pure as possible, he adds, with none of the "traditional fertilizers that are oil-based, with heavy metals that get in the way of natural enzymes and bacteria in the earth and impede growth. The natural worms and bugs people have problems with, I don't have any problem with." With healthy soil and lawn, Ulrich says he doesn't have to thatch (rake out dead grass and debris) — and he carts off lawn clippings for compost. Pam Rouhier of the Grange Co-op in Medford, who teaches lawn care to Master Gardeners, supports the chemical-free lawn habit. "The only real and absolute way to make sure you're not creating dangerous runoff is not using dangerous chemicals," she says. The Grange sells both chemical and non-chemical fertilizers but Rouhier notes, "The right amount of chemical fertilizer is fine, but some people put on a lot. If you see water running down the street, it's getting into the (stream) system and that's not good." Rouhier adds, "Chemical fertilizers can put too much nitrates in water and they end up in the ocean. They encourage algae growth and that takes oxygen out of the water. "¦ In organic fertilizer, nitrogen releases much more slowly, so it's taken up (by grass) more slowly." The weedkiller 2,4-D zaps everything but grass and "it gets everywhere. It's quite harmful and poisons fish." There are no organic weed killers that differentiate between grass and weeds, but you can use citrus oil to kill weeds on walkways and on spots in gardens, she adds. As an organic fungicide, the Grange sells Serenade, a bacillus. It's a concentrate, costing $11 for enough to make 20 gallons. To help fight fungus, you also want to avoid watering late in the day, which leaves water sitting on the grass all night, Rouhier says. Instead of using a "pre-emergent" to stop weed seeds before they start (it's dangerous to fish), use corn gluten meal, costing $10 for 10 pounds, she says. Some herbicides and pesticides are "pretty deadly," injuring and killing fish, and are not approved for use near waterways, says Craig Harper, natural resources program manager with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments. "We can say confidently that in the summer, when streams are low, pesticides and fertilizers can cause die-off because of lack of dilution (of streams) and the fish are already stressed out by low dissolved oxygen, high temperatures and other contaminations," says Harper. The message, he adds, is use alternatives to pesticides and chemical fertilizers, keep such chemicals out of gutters and storm drains, and if you see your lawn water in the street, know that it's going to end up in streams. Storm drains along streets don't go to wastewater treatment plants, but straight into the creek. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. By john darling MailTribune.com By john darling Posted Apr. 22, 2008 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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