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re: honest question…why do so many of you soak your yard with chemicals?

Posted on 3/8/24 at 10:20 am to
Posted by RaginCajunz
Member since Mar 2009
5913 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 10:20 am to


This is the best case scenario. And those flowers tend to not last more than a few months in bloom at most.

Close to where I grew up, there were efforts to restore the cajun prairie. I applaud the effort and my mom was a big native plant advocate starting in the 80s. I grew up being drug to Bill Fontenot's native plant nursery outside of Carencro. (He authored several books on the subject)

My mom filled our yard with native plants and we had people tagging rare hummingbirds in our yard several times. Our yard also looked largely abandoned. Admittedly in some part because she planted more than she could tend. I would venture that I had to use more roundup growing up in that environment than I use now in my yard. I love walking neighborhoods in cities with condusive climates and native flowers, seeing those native yards.

I don't think it's possible to get a result most people would accept as beautiful in Louisiana. Especially not in a neighborhood.

Cajun Prairie
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
59475 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 10:55 am to
quote:

left to mother and turns to shite.

That's not what I'm talking about. A natural approach does not mean a lack of management.
quote:

You might see flowers one time. One spring. Once that passes you’re done.

Because it isn't managed and aggressive non-native plants and primarily grasses take over. They grow faster and shade out most native plants. We've created that mess.

quote:

So….. if you want to have flowers every year you have to buck nature.

You can manage nature and encourage a natural approach.
Posted by poochie
Houma, la
Member since Apr 2007
6624 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:02 am to
Ok, so how do you manage it?
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
59475 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:08 am to
quote:

Ok, so how do you manage it?

The same way you manage any area. You don't let it grow up and be overrun by what you don't want. You cultivate your garden areas knowing you're going to have insect damage (because that's largely what they're for), you pull weeds, you treat problems when they arise with natural products, you select the right plants for the right area, you get them from reputable nurseries that don't use systemic pesticides. Most of this isn't alien, it is just different.

The well-manicured lawn of a monoculture turf grass didn't exist in this country until roughly post-WW2. And it is no coincidence that it grew along with chemical advancements. A whole lot of marketing and pushing went into changing the traditional mindset.
This post was edited on 3/8/24 at 11:10 am
Posted by poochie
Houma, la
Member since Apr 2007
6624 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:12 am to
quote:

you pull weeds,


You want people to pull weeds in their whole yard that they’re trying to let naturally over grow.

quote:

you treat problems when they arise with natural products,


Like what?

This sounds like some kook essential oil bs.

Maybe a landscape bed can be kept like this but no way a full yard.


Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3420 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:12 am to
quote:

What is it about monoculture that is so appealing?
My wife loves the look of a nicely manicured lawn. Happy wife, happy life. Our lawn is pretty stunning.
quote:

How is fighting a losing battle time or cost effective?
I do two pre-emergent treatments per year and I spot treat my yard with chemicals. I really don't spend that much in the grand scheme of things, and my lot is 1.25 acres. The lawn looks great, so I'm not sure I'm losing any battle.
quote:

Where in the natural world is there ever a zero sum outcome?
I don't think there is. I do keep a 200' x 20' area in the back completely natural as a border. It has small pines and oaks, blackberry, wildflowers, jasmine, honeysuckle, muscadine, etc. It's a great spot that the wildlife (deer, fox, birds, butterflies, bees, etc.) flock to. It's nice sitting out in the pool looking back at that area through the wonderful lawn.

I also got permission from the landowner behind me to plant clover/chicory on his trail that divides the property. It serves a dual purpose as he lets me hunt that land also. So I also do plenty to help the wildlife around me.
This post was edited on 3/8/24 at 11:15 am
Posted by concrete_tiger
Member since May 2020
6525 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:16 am to
Show us pictures of your lawn
Posted by concrete_tiger
Member since May 2020
6525 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:17 am to
quote:

my absolute favorite thing in this life is working with nature and using the (free) resources available to work alongside it and create an outcome that makes sense in a positive way. Composting, natural mulch, fungi, beneficial insects, diversity and native plants create an amazing landscape

I don’t understand why anyone would want otherwise. Decay and renewal…


Sounds awful. You do you.
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
59475 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:18 am to
quote:

Like what?

I'm not going to write a treatise on it on a damn message board.

quote:

This sounds like some kook essential oil bs.

Yeah, you're right. That's all it is.

quote:

You want people to pull weeds in their whole yard that they’re trying to let naturally over grow.

Where did I say that? I didn't even say you shouldn't mow.

quote:

Maybe a landscape bed can be kept like this but no way a full yard.


Which is why I said you manage it the way you manage anything else. I don't advocate for fully non-mow. I haven't here.

You need to settle down and understand that there are other ways than the one you've been sold.

If you're at all interested, which clearly you're not given that you believe it is all witchcraft, I've linked several resources here.
This post was edited on 3/8/24 at 11:20 am
Posted by poochie
Houma, la
Member since Apr 2007
6624 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:39 am to
quote:

LegendInMyMind


Dude, you’re the one telling us we’re doing it wrong. Then when we ask what we should do you scoff at us.

Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
59475 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:41 am to
quote:

Dude, you’re the one telling us we’re doing it wrong.

This isn't my thread, and I haven't said you're "wrong". I can't have an opinion?
quote:

Then when we ask what we should do you scoff at us.


I haven't scoffed at anyone. I've answered questions and given links to resources. If you think I'm "scoffing" at you, that is a you problem.
Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3420 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 11:43 am to
quote:

I actually let the armyworms eat last year as an experiment.
What was the verdict? I had 2 bouts with them last year and ended up treating for it. The areas they wreaked havoc on seem to be fine now.
Posted by Rick9Plus
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2020
1986 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 12:10 pm to
I feel similar. I actually like the different weeds. As long as i mow every other week it doesn’t get out of control. For example, my yard has quite a bit of clover that the honeybees like. But several years back, i was into having a perfect lawn so i used chemicals. Maybe i’ll go back to that one day but for now i’m enjoying identifying things and watching the bees. In my garden bed i just pull the weeds.
Posted by Rick9Plus
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2020
1986 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 12:13 pm to
But i agree that going 100% native plants for the whole ornamental bed does not look ornamental enough for my tastes or my HOA.
Posted by Tigers4Lyfe
Member since Nov 2010
4967 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 12:34 pm to
I just ran into a patch of beautiful native, Louisiana turf.

Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
2160 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 12:45 pm to
quote:

Why do you care? Is it hurting you?



I have to assume that some amount of the chemicals runs off into creeks/river/bays. How bad they are, if at all, I don't know. I don't trust Bayer, et al to fully tell us the long-term affects or if they even know or if they'd rather not even know.

I know if I use as little chemical as possible, then that much less of potentially harmful stuff ends up in creeks and rivers where our kids and their kids will hopefully play.

We all enjoy plenty of food at relatively cheap prices in large part because of farmers utilizing chemicals. I assume the farmers are using it as judicially as possible for reasons of cost and label requirements. Just a necessary evil.
Now joe-blow homeowner mixing talstar at 10x the recommended rate and spraying everything down in his yard because he saw a mosquito might not be doing the environment any favors.
Posted by berrycajun
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2016
7002 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 12:52 pm to
Where do i get a bag of native wildflower seeds? In college, my hippie roommate and i threw down a bunch of wildflower seeds in our yard and beds at our rent house. It was one of those old Southdowns homes, so I’m thinking the soil was probably good. Lots of old growth around there and unraked piles of leaves/nature doing its thing. It was a college rental, so no one was using pesticides or herbicides. The old landlord would cut the grass once a month. Anyway, nothing ever sprouted.

My daughter threw down wildflower seeds at our home a few years ago and nothing grew.

I’m pretty good at gardening and recently tried wildflower seeds without any luck. I finally came to the conclusion that all 3 attempts failed because they weren’t native, AND that frolicking FIELDS of wildflowers don’t really grow in Louisiana —Not like what you see in a calendar.

I do recall buttercups growing along the sugarcane fields when I was little. And still every year along the highways and interstate I see pretty red plume type flowers. Those grow en masse. But other than those I’ve never noticed a flower that seems to be the type that will just take over the yard annually.

SO, where does one acquire these native wildflowers? Is there anything that would really fill a lawn? I mean i doubt we’d all have yards that look like English cottages? The crabgrass would quickly fill in. And crabgrass is UGLY. It sticks up and grows taller and faster than the rest of the lawn. It’s wretched. Clover is cute, I’m down with clovers. and dandelions would blend in with the wildflowers, but crabgrass is just awful. Maybe it would blend in with the wildflowers, though since wildflowers are tall??
Posted by berrycajun
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2016
7002 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 1:00 pm to
This is where I’m at. And when i started using cypress mulch it changed my life. I’m serious. Nothing made a bigger difference in all my years of “yarding/gardening” than cypress mulch. It smothers the weeds and keeps the plants from going thirsty.

Lay it on thick twice a year the first year, then just once a year, and you are good to go.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
40774 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 1:13 pm to
LINK

here’s one. I use these seeds all the time and the result is spectacular

There are many others

remember that most perennials that are native to LA are native to the whole southeast…most daisies, coneflowers, zinnias, etc
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
40774 posts
Posted on 3/8/24 at 1:16 pm to
quote:

Now joe-blow homeowner mixing talstar at 10x the recommended rate and spraying everything down in his yard because he saw a mosquito might not be doing the environment any favors.
that was really my point. I had had a couple beers last nite when I started this thread if I was a dick to anyone I apologize

I do feel strongly about the issue though, and it comes from a good place that I feel good about. Simply that the safest and least toxic solution is almost always the best, and easiest, and cheapest. It might take longer but that’s how it goes
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