Pesticides Can Cause Severe Health Problems in Humans and Pets

It’s extraordinary how many health issues are associated with pesticides. Cancers, neurological problems, and birth defects are some of the most dramatic, but increased asthma attacks and skin disorders plague many others. Pesticides are also increasingly suspected of being ‘endocrine disrupters’, a category of chemicals that can cause severe illnesses from cancer to miscarriage to immune system problems.

Pets at Risk

Cats and dogs are more vulnerable to most of these disorders than humans, because they have more skin area in proportion to their body size, so they have a proportionally larger surface through which they can absorb poisons. Besides that, they lick their fur and their feet, ingested it directly into their mouths.

Children Most Vulnerable

Children are the most vulnerable because they have much thinner and more permeable skins than do animals, but like animals, they have a larger skin area in relation to the weight or volume of their bodies than do adults. Children’s immune systems are not fully developed, so they cannot protect themselves from toxins as well as an adult’s system can. Furthermore, as they play they roll around on grass, crawl on it, walk barefoot on it, and sometimes eat it. As a result they absorb more of whatever is on the grass, and they absorb it in more ways than adults.

Possible Cancer-Causing Agent

The rise in pesticide use parallels a rise in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NLH), a class of lymphatic cancers. What used to be a rare disease is now the fifth most common cancer in the U.S. In the twenty-four years between 1973 and 1997, the incidence of these cancers rose about 80% or almost 3% yearly.

A report by the esteemed National Cancer Institute of Bethesda, Maryland, listed eight “possible causes” of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, four of them dealing with what most people would think of as medical issues (such as genetics, viruses, and pre-existing medical conditions) and four with environmental factors. The first item on that second list was pesticides. In study after study, the first environmental risk factor or probable cause mentioned is pesticides.

Pesticide is Poison

That pesticides are dangerous is well-established (they were designed as nerve agents and are closely related chemically to the poisons used in the Nazi gas chambers), but the working assumption has been that there is a “safe dosage” below which they don’t harm us. According to this model, if a single low dose of a chemical appears to be safe, then ten or ten hundred similarly low doses would also be safe. But there are other substances and procedures for which this rule does not hold. Most of us know, for instance, that an X-ray isn’t dangerous but that you should limit the number you have in a day, a year, and a lifetime.

Despite the dangers, the pesticide industry is replete with lobbyists and so they spend lots of time and money “convincing” politicians that their product is completely safe. But numerous health and environmental studies have shown that to be false. 

The best solution is to avoid these toxic agents whenever possible, and Hedahl Landscape has many non-toxic, organic applications that will keep your lawn and landscaping healthy and green, while keeping you, your children and your pets safe from harm. Call us today at 360-340-1141 for a free consultation.

Sources: planetnatural.com, epa.gov, www.panna.org

Caring for Your Northwest Lawn Organically

Soil pH

The heavily wooded Northwest has fungal-dominant soil.

Here in the heavily wooded Northwest our soil is fungal-dominant, which gives it a higher acid content. Because of the acidity, the soil pH is generally low, and it is important to raise the pH level to maintain a healthy lawn. Adding lime to the soil raises the pH level, bringing it into a better acid-alkaline balance. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, but most soils are between 4 and 9.  Below 6.0, soil is acidic, above 7.0 it is considered alkaline. A pH between 6 and 7 is generally considered ideal.

To find out your soil’s pH level, it’s a good idea to have your soil tested professionally. If a soil’s pH is found to be lower than 6.0, then an application of lime will reduce the acidity in your soil and lead to a healthier lawn. We have found a calcitic lime product that is much faster at raising the pH level in soil. In as little as three weeks your soil’s pH can be at optimum levels.

Another benefit of calcitic lime is that it doesn’t contain any magnesium carbonate. While many lime products (such as dolomite lime) contain magnesium, it is not necessary in the Northwest since the soil usually has plenty of it. Adding more will make it worse, and cause compaction, among other things.

Mowing

Many people are under the impression that mowing your lawn shorter will mean it will take longer to grow back, allowing you to mow it less often. This is not true, and is actually harmful to your lawn for a number of reasons.

The upper blades of grass are what allow it to absorb water and sunshine, converting it to food (a process called photosynthesis). This is how all plant life gets its nutrition. If grass blades are trimmed too low, this process is compromised and the grass begins to starve. This triggers the grass to grow faster so it can get back to ‘normal’. While expending all this energy to regrow quickly, it weakens the grass. Add to that a lack of water or sunshine, and the grass begins to stress and die.

By setting your mower at the highest cutting height, you trim off less of the important blades that the grass needs for processing sunlight and water into food. Another benefit is that as taller blades, it can win the battle against weeds, which can thrive more effectively in a shorter environment. If the grass is short and weak, it will lose the territorial battle and the weeds will take over the lawn.

Fertilizing and Watering

 

Use organic fertilizer only.

Use only organic fertilizers on your lawn. Fertilizers loaded with pesticides and other toxins will build up in your soil and affect it adversely. The runoff goes down the storm drains and into the water system, poisoning the environment. Using organic fertilizer twice a year (spring and fall) is all your lawn needs to do well.

When watering your lawn, it’s important to give it just the right amount of water. Overwatering can be as bad as under-watering. We get plenty of moisture nearly year-round in the Northwest, so it’s not necessary to water your lawn constantly. Not only is this a waste of water, but too much can drown the grass and cause loss of nutrients through soil erosion. If it hasn’t rained for a few days, and you see your lawn getting a little stressed, put a cup in your sprinkler zone. Once it gets about an inch of water, that’s enough.

If you have any questions about organic lawn care, Hedahl Landscape is a Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional, EcoPRO certified. They would be happy to answer and questions you may have, or provide a free estimate for your lawn. Call us at 360-340-1141 or visit our website at www.hedahlandscape.com

What Is Organic Landscaping and Why Is It Important?

The word ‘organic’ seems to pop up everywhere these days, from fruits and vegetables to eggs and meats. But, there’s an equally important emphasis being put on organic land care, and for good reason: The dangerous chemicals in many widely-used fertilizers and weed killers is not only an environmental hazard, but dangerous to humans and animals, too.

The primary goals of organic land care are:

• Maintaining soil health
• Eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
• Increasing landscape diversity
• Improving the health and well being of people and animals

The Dangers of Pesticide Use

The demand for organic lawns is driven by concerns about human health and the environment. Organic management is beneficial to human health and the environment in many ways: eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides; building a diverse, robust ecological system that holds nutrients and water; reducing pollution due to leaching and run-off; and recharging groundwater and streams with clean fresh water.
A pesticide, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is “any substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.” Pests include a wide range of “living organisms that occur where they are not wanted or cause damage to crops or humans or other animals.” In addition to insects, these include weeds, fungi, bacteria and viruses that cause disease in plants, and animals such as mice and slugs that attack desirable plants or occur where they aren’t wanted.

Small children can be sickened by lawn pesticides.

While pesticides may be needed in certain situations to protect against the spread of human pathogens, evidence of harmful effects of pesticides on human health and the environment has increased steadily since the first alarms were raised by the book Silent Spring in 1962.  As the evidence has accumulated, some pesticides that once were widely used have been restricted or banned.

Delayed Symptoms

There can be a long time between pesticide exposure and the appearance of chronic disease. Cancer in humans, for example, may show up 20–30 years after exposure to a carcinogenic pesticide. Studies have shown that fetuses and young children are particularly sensitive to the effects of pesticides. These effects may show up as cancer, as deformities of the reproductive system or as effects on the development of the nervous system, which affect learning and behavior, but are only detected years after the exposure.

Recent studies have shown that exposure of a parent to pesticides is associated with birth defects, cancer and reproductive effects in the next generation. This includes exposure of fathers, not just pregnant mothers.
Hedahl Landscape: Focused on Organic

So, it’s imperative that we reduce the use of pesticides in our lives, and that includes our lawns and landscaping, where we -- and our children and pets -- spend a great deal of time. Hedahl Landscape is dedicated to creating pesticide-free landscaping through the use of organic sprays and other non-toxic treatments for your property.

Give us a call at 360-340-1141 or visit our website: www.hedahlandscape.com  for more information, or a free quote.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Pesticide Information Center, Cornell Extension Toxicology Network

The greatest complement one can receive...

Hedahl Landscape working on paver driveway.

We just completed a large paver driveway project in Gig Harbor.  As we were cleaning up the site, the homeowner came out and handed me the final check and told me "This was such a pleasure!  You were the first contractor that has worked here (including the builders and other landscapers) who finished on time and on budget!  Everyone else came back at us during the project and asked for several thousand more dollars...  And, your crew was so pleasant-- and it's amazing I couldn't even tell they used our bathroom [it was kept so clean]."     So, thank you! We appreciate hearing these wonderful complements.

Belgard Mega-Arbel concrete pavers, installed by Hedahl Landscape

Sequim 117th annual Irrigation Festival Kickoff Dinner

Last weekend, we got to attend the kickoff dinner at the 7-cedars casino for the 117th annual Sequim Irrigation Festival.  That was a lot of fun!  Here is a couple pictures of the float that will be in at least 14 parades this year around the state where they utilized our Dream Turf synthetic lawn turf!

Hedahl donated the turf for use on the float.

Hope to go see it rolling through Sequim in May for the parade!

Hedahl Landscape Donated Synthetic Dream Turf Grass

Sequim 117th Irrigation Festival Float

Welcome to the Hedahl Landscape Blog!

Hedahl Landscape, Deck & Patio has been in business since 1999, and serves Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard and Gig Harbor. They also serve part of Jefferson County, into Port Ludlow and Port Townsend.  Richard Hedahl, owner, has won numerous awards for his landscape work, and puts an emphasis on customer education and service. Hedahl Landscape's goal is to create a beautiful living space on your property that can be sustainable for years. With the use of organic landscaping techniques, Hedahl can turn an ordinary yard into a magnificent environment for your enjoyment.

Whether it involves synthetic turf, an all-weather putting green, a new deck or patio, new plantings, or something that requires heavy equipment for site preparation and retaining walls, Hedahl is equipped to handle the project!

Check out the Hedahl Landscape Deck & Patio website for examples.

Give Richard Hedahl a call today at 360-340-1141 for a free estimate!