"Peter H" wrote:
"Pat Kiewicz" wrote in message
news
Peter H said:

If anyone doesn't know what turf looks like when pesticides aren't
used
you
only have to take a stroll through a schoolyard or check out a
boulevard
in
Toronto these days. What you have there is not really turf, it's more
a combination of knotweed, dandelion, blackmedic and dirt. Lawns as we
have grown to know them will be a thing of the past in Toronto.

That's more lack of watering and improper mowing than lack of
pesticides (along with, in the case of the school grounds, compaction
unalieviated by core aeration). Those areas also probably could use an
annual dose of slow-release fertilizer in the fall and never get any
fertilizer, ever.
Pesticides
would not be enough turn those lawns lush. (In the past, maybe, they
would
have had a more frequent mowing schedule, and even some fertilization,
but that would take more employees and is an easy thing to cut back on
to save money.)

My 'showpiece' front lawn has not seen a pesticide in 10+ years. It
does get watered, mowed regularly (high, often, with a very sharp blade
and the clippings mulched), and fertilized (organic or slow-release
fertilizers,
late
May, early Sept, late October -- all low-phosphorus formulations as
recommended for watershed protection).

--
Pat K. ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)


Well all I can say is that in 10+ years of professional lawn care I never
saw a "showpiece" lawn that was maintained w/out pesticides. In theory is
suppose that it's possible as long as you've got the time to pull the
weeds and are fortunate enough that the bugs don't find you, but it's
highly unlikely. On the other hand I guess " showpiece " is a rather
subjective adjective.

Peter H

"Showpiece" is a relative term. Turfgrass variety, location, and
cultural practices cause many variations in appearance. That standard
is also relative to the beholder. My front lawn is mono-strand midnight
bluegrass. It requires -much- more care than say a turf type tall fescue
blend, but since I'm in the business it's no big deal. I'd never sell
a homeowner mono-midnight, unless I warned them of the care it requires.

'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder', really rings true here.