Organics versus Chemicals
Organics versus Chemicals
Caring for Plants & Ecosystems
by Steve Houser – President/Owner
Are you pro organic or pro chemical? As an Arborist, Naturalist, and Gardener, my answer is, “I am pro common sense and pro research.” The media often portray organics as good, and chemicals, or synthetic chemicals to be more accurate, as bad. The difference between the two is seldom noted, leaving the public without a clear understanding of the underlying facts. Touting one over the other as a panacea for all plant and ecosystem related problems ignores sound research behind both approaches. The answers lie in current research and a balanced, common sense approach to problem resolution. Just to be clear, the term “plant” does include trees.
Which method of care is better? If the cultural issue is not a great threat to the plant’s future health or value, do not use either method. When current research shows that natural defenses exist to resolve the problem to an acceptable level, take the holistic approach and leave it to Mother Nature. However, Mother Nature and an organic approach cannot solve all plant or ecosystem problems.
The inner-urban environment of today does not represent the natural world of the past. Poor air and water quality, invasive and non-native plants, diseases, and pests can prevent Mother Nature from functioning normally in our urban areas. Examples of these harmful elements include Chinese Privet, which is invading many of our natural areas, and/or Oak Wilt, a deadly tree pathogen. No sound research provides organic answers to stop the spread of Chinese Privet or effectively treat Oak Wilt. Mother Nature does not solve all urban environmental problems on her own. The choice, as in many cases such as Oak Wilt, is to stay organic and lose trees, or consider chemical options to retain the trees.
If your choice is organic methods, it is wise to use the products and techniques that are proven by scientific research regarding the full effects to the entire environment: air, water, soil, animals, and humans. Unfortunately, many people believe organic means it is safe for humans and the environment. This is not always the case. The misuse of material, organic or chemical, and a lack of research regarding their proper usage, specifically in mixing the materials, can lead to problems in the biological balance of nature. It is impractical to think that all problems can be resolved with either approach without any negative consequences. It is also unreasonable to promote any organic material, chemical, or “mixture” without solid research.
Using organic material to improve the soil or to resolve plant problems is not new science. Existing research quantifies the benefits of adding compost or humus to the soil as a way to stimulate biological activity and improve soil and plant health. However, the full effect of multiple applications containing many materials, organic and sometimes chemical, throughout the seasons, year after year, is not always well researched or clear. As a result, the answer is to have a balanced approach to problems that can adapt to current research, plus minimize the impact to our ecosystems as well as our health. In order, the best approaches are: let nature solve it, use organic products if sound research exists, use chemicals as a last resort and only for major problems. What constitutes a major problem requires a value judgment by individuals and may vary from person to person.
Do we fully understand urban ecosystems and how they should function in the future to reach our regional goals of sustainability? The answer is no! There are experts in wildlife, plants, soils, water, and many other fields. However, I do not recall hearing of any urban ecosystem expert that claims to fully understand how our inner-city ecosystems should function in relation to each other. As a result, how can the organic or chemical crowds claim that one or the other is the only answer to resolve all plant or ecosystem related problems? If one approach is better for a problem, prove it with sound research or be responsible and wait for the facts before using or recommending either one. Unfortunately, a pure organic or chemical approach will not provide all the answers to the existing problems we currently face in the urban environment. A balanced, common sense, and fact-based approach is required to reach ecological sustainability in the future.
Steve Houser
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