Earth Day 2005: Preservation Through Conservation

Published in This Week April 17, 2005

By Gannett Publishing Inc.

At long last, spring is in the air. As the earth slowly awakens from this long winter’s nap, it’s time to start gearing up for planting flowers and vegetable gardens, and break out the mower for a season of lawn care. And, with spring nearly upon us, so, too, is the 35^th annual Earth Day celebration, which is set for April 22^nd. As we prepare for our outdoor gardening projects, now is a great time to think about how we can avoid inadvertently damaging the very habit that we love so much.

The type of ground that much of Wisconsin, including Door County, sits on is what Geologists call “karst terrain.” This means that the ground we walk on is merely a thin crust of soil and bedrock that hides caves and underground water sources. The soil and bedrock are porous, and the man made chemicals and poisons that we put on the ground can easily percolate through this crust and into the groundwater and caves below us. As we prepare for springtime gardening and lawn care, we must remember that we have a responsibility to all living things in our community, and we must do our part to keep Wisconsin ecologically sound and our natural resources uncontaminated.

Keep it Green by Keeping it Clean

There are a couple of easy things that we can do to promote a healthy lawn without using chemicals. Most lawns have thatch which is accumulated grass clippings from past years of mowing. Thatch blocks water and air from penetrating into the soil. With a de-thatching tool, which is inexpensive and is available at most lawn and garden centers, thatch can be removed to promote a thicker lawn and one which requires less water to remain healthy. In addition to de-thatching, aerating a lawn further promotes a thicker lawn that more readily absorbs moisture and air. Thicker lawns are naturally weed resistant, and require less water, less fertilizer, and less herbicide.

According to information provided by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, cool season grasses, the most common type in Wisconsin, require about 1.5 inches of water, each week, to remain healthy. During the summer heat, especially when there are long periods without rain, it’s inevitable that grass will need water. An easy way to tell whether your grass is dried out involves giving it the “footprint test.” Walk across the lawn and look back to see if your footprints are still visible. If you can see your footprints, the grass needs water.

Watering in the early morning, when winds are usually calm, sunlight is subdued, and dew is present, maximizes the effectiveness of watering. Don’t water the lawn to the point that puddles form or water is running off. Puddles and runoff mean that water is being wasted and it is not helping the lawn.

Healthy Plants, Healthy Ecosystem

When preparing a plot for a vegetable garden or bedding plants, soil amendments such as peat moss and compost are much more environmentally friendly than chemical products. Small quantities of sand added to the soil improve water absorption by reducing the clotting and clumping properties of the soil. And, once again, watering the garden during the morning is the most efficient way of maximizing water usage.

To further reduce the need for frequent watering and minimize the need for herbicides, use mulch, decorative rock, or pea gravel around bedding plants. In vegetable gardens, use weed matting to help the soil retain moisture and help keep weeds under control without poisons.

In addition to the aforementioned items, choosing plants that are shade tolerant and finding a suitable location for them is also an environmentally conscious decision. Shade tolerant plants tend to require less watering and some varieties of plant, local to the region, require less fertilizing and less maintenance than others. If you’re in need of some shade, remember that planting trees is an excellent way to improve the appearance and value of your property, while helping the environment.`

When the use of outdoor chemical products is unavoidable, always read and follow the product’s directions, and please be especially careful with products used in close proximity to water sources. Always dispose of the empty chemical containers properly. Remember, more is not better when using man-made chemicals on your lawn or garden.

Get Involved

You can have a say or ask a question at the Annual Earth Day forum that will be held at the Door Community Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22^nd. The panel of experts will include representatives from The Ridges Sanctuary, Door County Land Trust, The Door County Environmental Council, and The Nature Conservancy. Representatives will engage in a panel discussion regarding environmental topics that are important to Door County.

Earth Day lasts only 24 hours. However, our responsibility to keep the Earth a beautiful and safe place for all of our wonderful natural resources is something that requires vigilance, year-round. With the conservative use of man-made and potentially toxic chemicals, and an active effort to protect our ecosystem, we can diminish the adverse consequences to the water that sustains us and our state’s treasures.

There are plenty of organizations in our community that work diligently to help preserve Door County’s natural beauty, but they can always use some help. A few of these groups include The Ridges Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy, and The Door County Land Trust, Inc. They work continuously to educate and improve the quality of life for all of Door County’s inhabitants. For membership or volunteer project information, or to make a donation to The Ridges Sanctuary, please contact Paul Regnier at (920) 839-2802. For information about volunteer projects and/or membership to The Nature Conservancy, please contact Michael Grimm at (920) 743-8695. For information regarding membership or volunteer activities, please contact Dan Burke at (920) 839-9990.