M.M. asks from Green Bay, WI on April 14, 2009
"Green" Lawn & Garden Care
Hi Moms and Dads,
I'm looking to weed and feed and generally care for my backyard/garden with out a lot of harsh chemicals. I'm concerned about the chemicals in such products as scotts weed 'n feed staying in the soil and getting into the water table. Not to mention into the vegetables I'm going to plant and feed to my family. Anyone have any nature and family friendly suggestions? Thank you, M.
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M.F. answers from St. Cloud on April 15, 2009
M., I use Miracle Grow for just about everything, but especially the vegetable and flower gardens. It works wonders. Good luck.
P.G. answers from Des Moines on April 15, 2009
I have used the Jerry baker method with beautiful results. All it's an easy DIY and safe for kids and pets!
www.jerrybaker.com
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H.J. answers from Milwaukee on April 15, 2009
Go to www.gardensalive.com they are all natural non-toxic lawn and garded care.
1 mom found this helpful
E.M. answers from Des Moines on April 14, 2009
A.E. answers from Dubuque on April 15, 2009
HI there M.,
I have the same concerns as you. I use organic everything outside!! My mom owns a greenhouse, so I just ask her. It is really scary what is put in everyday cleaners and outdoor chemicals. I am a mother of four and I take this very seriously. If you can believe it, there is even formaldyhide in Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo!! So don't use it for you little one!! I would love to share what I use in my home as well. You are definitely wanting to protect you family, I can help you! ____@____.com
1 mom found this helpful
K.J. answers from Minneapolis on April 15, 2009
Basic H by Shaklee has been used for years by organic Farmers to retain moisture in the soil and has a natural insectaside quality. Safe for the kids to use. Highly concentrated and can be used for cleaning aswell. find a distributor in your area to help you. see the website www.shaklee.com
1 mom found this helpful
B.W. answers from Minneapolis on April 15, 2009
1 mom found this helpful
V.G. answers from Minneapolis on April 15, 2009
M.,
Check out www.gardensalive.com All of their producs are natural. I've used several products and have been happy with them.
Ginny
L.G. answers from Minneapolis on April 15, 2009
Great question! We don't use any of those chemicals on our lawn either and we're blessed to have next door neighbors who also do not use them. (One of these days I'm going to have to stop in next door and tell them how much I actually appreciate their dandelions! They make great salad greens too.) :) To be honest, our yard doesn't really look as great as some of our other neighbors who spray consistently, but we found that if we mow the lawn, it looks just about the same as everyone else's. Plus, we don't mow super short or often, so our yard is actually greener looking in the dry summer months.
My husband found a neat trick. Put vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it directly on dandelions at the peak sunlight hours on a very sunny day. It burns the plants up and they're dead by the next day. I'm not sure if it kills the roots though. It's labor intensive, but it works. (OR I suppose you could just pick the dandelions, put them directly into a salad bowl and then spray the vinegar with a little olive oil once you get inside. Add croutons, tomatoes, onions, maybe some lettuce, and you have a gourmet salad! I have yet to try this myself, but now that we're going on our 4th year of having our yard as a yard and not as a conventional farm field, I figure our turf is close enough to being organic.) ;)
D.R. answers from Tampa on April 14, 2009
Hello M.,
I work with a green wholesale manufacturer, and I can definitely make recommendations for products that can be used as: fertilizer, soil surfactants, bug spray, pest control ect... for your lawn and garden.
And best of all, these aren't costly, one-use products. These are actually, non-toxic, environmentally responsible household products that are multi-purpose. What a huge savings for you, and safe too!
You may visit my website to request more information.
www.HealthyShoppingHealthySavings.com
Happy gardening,
D. R.
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