Additional Information for Healthy Lawns and Landscapes

Scientific References on the Health Risks of Pesticides

Scientific References for Pesticide Health Risks can be found at the website for the
Toxics Use Reduction (TURI) program of the State of Massachusetts. The Wellesley Project section is particularly informative. The TURI site for the Wellesley project is
http://community.turi.org/wel/PesticideGuide.html The books and references for Wellesley's pesticide reduction project are at http://home.comcast.net/~little.sarah/page7.html

For federal data from the U.S. Geological Survey on Pesticides in U.S. waterways and groundwater, see
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/

Recently Banned Pesticides

Do not buy products containing Chlorpyrifos (Dursban™, Lorsban™) or Diazinon, as the EPA has concluded they pose unacceptable health risks.

New Jersey School Pesticide Law

To protect children, all schools in the state must now restrict pesticide use. It's up to you to protect them at home. See more information at www.pestmanagement.rutgers.edu/ipm/schoolipm .

Reporting Pesticide Abuse

If you see anyone dumping pesticides or applying them in an inappropriate way, please call the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1-877-927-6337 (1-877-WARNDEP)

Local Landscape Contractors That Offer Organic Land Care*

1-888 Lawn-Tec
11 Elizabeth ave
Warren, NJ 07059
1-888-529-6832

Environmental Approach
7 North Hillside Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928-2515
973-635-9404

Organic Landscape and Design Company
PO Box 184
Madison, NJ 07940
973-593-0268
organiclandscapedesign.com

S. Johnson Landscape Management, Inc.
43 Roosevelt Avenue
Chatham , NJ 07928
973-635-0052
email: sjlm123@aol.com

* The above landscape contractors have responded positively to our survey of businesses that offer organic lawn and landscape care in our area. The list does not constitute endorsement or approval of any of those listed. Chatham Township assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of this information.

This list will be updated periodically. Residents and landscape contractors are encouraged to help the Chatham Township Environmental Commission keep this list of local organic lawn services accurate and up to date.

Organic Lawn Care Products Available *

The following Brand names of organic lawn care products may be found at the local gardening supply stores listed in the Chatham Township Healthy Lawns and Landscapes brochure as well as at larger regional stores such as Home Depot, Hechinger’s, or Frank’s:

Coast of Maine: Lawn and Garden Food, Composted Manure, Top Soil, etc.
Cockadoodle Doo: Organic Weed Control, Organic Fertilizer
Concern: Corn Gluten, Weed Prevention Plus (8-2-4), Diatomaceous Earth,
Fast Acting Weed Killer
Earth Gro 88
Earthgrow Topsoil
Earthrite
Espoma Organic Traditions: Corn Gluten, numerous garden fertilizers
Espoma Organic Lawn Food (18-8-6), Garden Manure
Fertrell (Weedban, Super Lawn and Garden Fertilizer, Nitrell)
Frank’s Organic
Greenlight Neem Concentrate Insecticide, Fungicide, Miticide
Hot Pepper Wax, Inc.: Insect Repellant
Jonathan Green Organic Fertilizer (8-3-1)
Neptune’s: numerous garden fertilizers
Organic Laboratories Exel Systemic Fungicide
Organocide Insecticide and Fungicide
Preen Vegetable and Garden Weed Preventer
Ringer: All Natural Lawn Restore (10-2-6), Compost Plus
Safer: All Purpose Fertilizer, Caterpillar Killer, Japanese Beetle Traps,
          Insect Killing Soap
Schultz Garden Safe: various insecticides and fungicides
Scott’s Natural
Serenade: Garden Disease Control, Fungicide
Sharpshooter Insecticide
St. Gabriel Laboratories:  Burn Out II, Milky Spore
Super Fast
Organica
Victor
Weedzstop
WOW

Read the label!  Natural Organic fertilizers are made from composted manure, mineral, or plant products.  If it doesn’t sound like an animal, vegetable, or mineral, it probably isn’t organic.  The benefit of natural organic fertilizer is that it feeds the beneficial soil microorganisms, breaks down slowly, and provides micro-nutrients.  Avoid sewage sludge-based fertilizers (see note below).

* This list does not constitute endorsement or approval of any of the products listed. Chatham Township assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information.

What is Natural Organic Fertilizer?

Natural organic fertilizers are made from composted manure, mineral, or plant products. If it doesn't sound like an animal, vegetable, or mineral, it probably isn't organic. Read the label!

Sewage Sludge in Fertilizer Warning

Sewage sludge-based organic fertilizer, such as Milorganite, Oceangro, Allgro, and Meadowlife, may contain elevated concentrations of metals and other potentially toxic materials. Metal levels in sewage sludge-based fertilizers are generally higher than metal levels in animal and plant-based organic fertilizers and background soils. Read product labels to find animal and vegetable based organic fertilizers. The Washington State Department of Agriculture has an online database reporting the concentrations of nine metals for each fertilizer sold in their state: http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilizers/Metals.htm

Benefits of Organic Fertilizers

The benefits of natural organic fertilizers are that they feed the beneficial soil microorganisms, break down slowly, and provide micro-nutrients. Organic fertilizers are also less likely to run off your lawn when it rains than synthetic fertilizers. Nutrient runoff from lawns and farms creates nitrogen and phosphorus-polluted “dead zones” in our streams, rivers and oceans.

Pesticides in Compost Warning

Do not compost grass clippings treated with herbicides. Be aware that conventional compost is likely to contain pesticides.

Books on Healthy Land Care

Common Sense Pest Control , by W. Olkowski, S. Daar, H. Olkowski, 1991

Handbook of Successful Ecological Lawn Care, by Paul Sachs, 1996

Tiny Game Hunting, by Hilary Klein and Adrian Wenner, 2001