Is a lush lawn worth all those chemicals?
It turns out its probably better for your community and the environment if you dont. Consumer Reports tells us why a perfect carpet of green lawn isnt so green. Some synthetic lawn-care products may be helpful to your yard in the short term but over time, experts say they can actually harm beneficial organisms in soil and wont lead to a healthy ecosystem in the long run. Whats more, Consumer Reports says research has linked many lawn chemicals, even at low levels, to potential health problems. You can track pesticides into your home from the lawn, where they can get into the dust on your floor and your carpet. Children could be exposed to that. Several common lawn pesticides are suspected to be linked to a variety of conditions like diabetes, and reproductive and developmental problems. Ad  And lawn chemicals dont always stay on your lawn. Fertilizers can be a source of water pollution, sometimes sinking deep into the soil and into local waterways or groundwater. The pesticide and fertilizer industry maintains that the Environmental Protection Agencys approval of existing lawn pesticides means the chemicals should be safe to use as directed on the label. But many safety advocates say the EPAs testing requirements are outdated. Standard EPA tests dont reflect the latest in toxicological sciences. Therefore, some significant effects of pesticides can go undetected. Still, Consumer Reports says its possible to move away from conventional lawn care. It just requires a bit of strategy, a few new habits, and some fresh ideas about what your yard should look like. Well have more advice on that tomorrow!