www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 23, 2010 · 24 Spring Home and Garden Maintain your landscape without synthetic pesticides Are you looking to have a backyard free from the traditional synthetic lawn andd garden products? Many people desire to have a thick healthy lawn and lush beautiful garden and want to be able to do this in an ecofriendly way. It's easy to do, you just need to know which products to choose. "People are looking for proactive lawn care ideas as well as taking immediate care of any pest problems in a more environmentally friendly way," says Betsy Gallacher a marketing director at Scotts. Gallacher also indicated that "weeds in the lawn and insects in the garden" are the two most common problems people experience during the summer. Corn Gluten is an excellent product that if applied in early spring will prevent both crab grass and weed seeds from germinating helping people kick off the season with less lawn problems and maintenance. To help prevent weeds from establishing a foothold in your lawn, be proactive and keep a thick healthy lawn throughout the season to help crowd them out. And there are many good natural fertilizers on the market available at all major retailers. For the garden there are several eco products available for use on and around plants. Look for ingredients like pyrethrins combined with canola oil for the best results against insects on plants. And keeping your pets safe while controlling slugs is easy with iron phosphate based products. Scotts EcoSense offers a wide range of high quality, effective products for both lawn and garden care. Creating your "eco" friendly backyard has never been so easy. An important thing to know about using these types of products is how to apply them. Since Greening your neighborhood from the ground up · Are compatible with underground stormwater storage systems, many slower-draining clay soils and cold climates; · Preserve wooded areas that would otherwise be cleared for stormwater detention or retention ponds; · Contribute to urban heat island reduction through evaporation and reflective, light coloured pavers; · Are highly visible; · Reduce the need for continuous expansion of drainage infrastructure; · May be used on sloped site with proper design; · Simplify surface and subsurface repairs; · Can be used for traffic calming; · Enhance property values. What Can I Do? Contact your local municipal officials and make sure they know that permeable pavements can reduce stormwater runoff pollution. www.newscanada.com these are alternative products, a more frequent application is necessary for optimum results. Be sure to read and follow label instructions. When it comes to environmental responsibility, homeowners seem to agree that a little more time and persistence is a small price to pay for healthier surroundings. Many Canadians try to manage their lawns and gardens in a way that will "make a difference" to the environment. "Scotts EcoSense provides a full line of products with alternatives to conventional lawn and garden care products, Gallacher said. The ScottsEcoSense line up of products includes a natural lawn fertilizer, ready-to-use and concentrate weed and insect control products, slug and snail baits and yellow jacket pheromone traps. (NC)--When you get down to it, the way your place is paved can have a greater affect than many realize on how well the environment fares. Here's Why: The right road, street and parking lot paving can lower stormwater runoff and so reduce pollution. Many people are asking the people in charge of paving to consider using permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) on upcoming projects. They look like popular concrete paving stones but are set in with small spaces between them. The space is filled with small stones to allow runoff to filter down and into the soil. They come in a variety of styles and colours to suit most places and purposes. In Addition, The Pavers: · Reduce runoff from common rainstorms by as much as 100 percent; · Promote street tree survival; · Reduce ice hazards because snow melts faster; www.newscanada.com · Have a 50-year life cycle; Follow the Dream Concrete Trimmings has been in operation since 1987. We are commited to superior workmanship and customer service. We have been a continuous supporter of the Oakville Community. Our firm specializes in the expose aggregate (pebble concrete). Our main focuses are driveways, french curb, sidewalks, patios and garage floors. Our work consists of top quality product. Form, pour and finish to our customers satisfation. SINCE 1974 EXPOSED AGGREGATE (Pebble) · DRIVEWAYS · FRENCH CURBS · PATIOS · STEPS · WALKWAYS · GARAGE FLOORS uality At Its Best! Call Fernando FREE ESTIMATES 905-844-5518 www.concretetrimmings.com