A Familiar Refrain

This editorial may sound familiar. It seems like every spring, these pages contain a dire warning about the harmful effects that synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides sprayed on lawns in an effort to achieve the greenest lawn on the block pose to groundwater, surface water, insects and birds.

Insecticides and fertilizers can wreak havoc on a yard’s local ecosystems, but, collectively, also become part of the stormwater runoff that ends up in our waterways, creating toxic algae blooms that jeopardize fish and wildlife — and can also be toxic to humans and their pets.

But as the recent days began to turn warmer, the familiar vibrant colors of spring began to show themselves, the buzzing of inspects grew louder and birds began chirping louder, so too did the dreaded evidence of the dumping of toxic chemicals — sprayer trucks made their way down residential streets and yellow caution flags sprouted up along front yards.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Local environmentalists and preservationists have been calling out for years for East End homeowners to abandon the modern American lawn, as Sustainable Living columnist Jenny Noble referred to the quest for the greenest lawn on the block — a competition spurred on by the fertilizer and chemical companies since the beginning of the suburban sprawl of the 1950s.

Chemical companies have a vested interest in perpetuating the myth that fertilizers and pesticides are necessary to create an enjoyable backyard experience.

There are other ways to achieve that “perfect lawn” without introducing toxic chemicals into the mix — and some have even suggested giving up the notion of a perfect lawn in the first place, and replacing your yard space with a meadow full of wildflowers, pollinator-friendly bushes and other native plantings.

If your heart is set on a blanket of green grass, there are steps that can be taken to achieve that without introducing poisons. There are a multitude of articles available offering tips and advice. Start by searching for the Perfect Earth Project and go from there.

At the very least, adopt the No Mow May movement, in which people are encouraged not to mow their lawns during the month of May to allow flowers and pollinator plants to flourish early in the season.

Saving our planet is worth the effort of finding new ways to take care of the lush environment that has drawn people to the East End for generations. They won’t want to stay, or keep coming back, if all that’s left is a toxic stew poisoning the ecosystem.

Change is long overdue. The practice of poisoning our groundwater, flora and fauna for the sake of keeping up with the Joneses must stop.

The birds and bees will thank you. The little critters will thank you. And your neighbors will thank you — hopefully, for generations to come.