Image of a beautiful flower border pictured in full bloom on a sunny summer's afternoon. Particularly striking are the purple veronica flowers (Veronica Speedwell Eveline) at the front of the flowerbed, while some delicate pink poppies are growing at the back of the border. An immaculately mown lawn with a neat edge provides an informal pathway past the colourful flowers, while larger shrubs, bushes and small trees provide a natural background to the garden.
Image of a beautiful flower border pictured in full bloom on a sunny summer's afternoon. Particularly striking are the purple veronica flowers (Veronica Speedwell Eveline) at the front of the flowerbed, while some delicate pink poppies are growing at the back of the border. An immaculately mown lawn with a neat edge provides an informal pathway past the colourful flowers, while larger shrubs, bushes and small trees provide a natural background to the garden.
Aired; April 10th, 2025.
As spring kicks into gear, many homeowners are turning their attention to lawn care. But on a recent episode of The Spark, horticulturist Erica Jo Schaeffer encouraged listeners to look beyond traditional approaches—and question what a “perfect lawn” really means.
“I call it the Great American Manipulation,” Erica Jo said, referring to the cultural obsession with pristine, weed-free lawns. “We’ve fallen into this trap of what our perfect lawn should look like instead of this beautiful, diverse amount of different plants… that support pollinators and the health of our soil.”
Schaeffer emphasized that successful lawn care begins below the surface. “When you’re talking about lawn, you’re also talking about grass, and when you’re talking about grass, it’s a plant,” she explained. “Of course it’s going to want certain soil conditions.”
She recommends getting a soil test—readily available through Penn State Extension, often for under $15. “There’s so much good information in that one test,” she said. “You can get them at the courthouse or at many garden centers.”
Rather than waging war on weeds, Erica Jo suggests a new perspective. “Our weeds are opportunistic,” she said. “Dandelions are trying to send their roots down into your soil to break it up, to make better soil. Clovers pull nitrogen out of the air and put it into your soil.”
Instead of paying for aeration and fertilizer, she suggests letting nature help. “We’re paying for our lawns to be aerated and we’re buying fertilizer while we kill our weeds,” she said. “What are we doing?”
For listeners wanting a safer, more sustainable option, Erica Jo advocates for organic lawn care. “Organic fertilizers slowly work on your lawn and build up your soil. They don’t hurt. They don’t possibly cause cancer in your dog.”
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
