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The Iorigest drought in 48 yearsl How does your Iawn Iook? Melanie Cummings Pesticides. Drought. Air pollution. Ibese are the detriments ta aur senseless seasonal pursuit of a green lawn that, despite vahiant effort and expense turns yellow by mid-summer due ta soarrng heat and humidity anyway The alternative offered by Artificial Grass & Landscaping (AGL-) is flot oniy a more environentally-friendly option that eliminates reliance an synthetic chemnicals and increasingly scarce water resources; artificial grass also saves time and money The lawns we slave over are poîentially hazardous ta our health and the earth. Lawn mawers powered by gasoline humn oil and gas that emit the samne air pollutants as drivng a car would on a 600-kilometre trip. And weed trimmers, edgers and leaf blowers conîribute ta five per cent of urban smog. Toxic pesticides used ta keep bugs at bay pose health risks for humans, causing disease, aggravating airways and inflicting long-termn damage ta aur bodies and aur pets' bodies. Sa much so that several Canadian cities have banned pesticides for cosmetie use. To boot, the chemnical-laden runoif from pouting an average of 46 pounds of the stuf on aur lawns each year evenmually seeps into aur groundwater. Enviromnent Canada estimates the average lawn soaks in just over 14,000 litres of water each year. Considening that Hamilton/Burlington is facing the lowest amount of rainfaîl this surrner than seen in 48 years of weather trackIng, water conservation is paramount. Between May and July only 100 millimetres of rain feil. Tihe average is 246 mm. That's sigmificanrly less than the previaus drought record set in the summer of 1971 when only 123 mm of rain feIl. AIl this for the sake of green ground caver? Does the end justify the means? Artificial Grass & Landscaping is a Stoney Creek-based. The companrys CEG Ivan Cauto has been instaliing sports fields worldwîde for 18 years. Over the past two years lie bas adapted this know-how for residential properties. No weeding, waîering, or mowing and still the reward of a lush iawn ta enjoy year round. Wbat's ta be wary of? Using blades made of polyeîhylene fibres residents can opt for a variety of colour and texture options: the two-tone 'Monte Caria' looks like a mix of Bluegrass and Fescue mix. The space between the blades of grass is filled wiîh black ruliber pellets made from recycled tires which are cryogenically frozen and do the job dirt does in stabilizing the grass blades. AH these materials are non-toxic, and safe for children and pets in more ways than one. Not anly does the surface cushian on impact from a 12-foot faîl heiglit, it's easy for wheelchairs ta traverse. Resistant ta ire, saIt and animal waste, the instaiied ground caver is priced at $8 ta $15 per square foot and camres an eight year long warranty Excavation, grading for proper drainage and a stone based screening is required prior ta laying down thse artificial sod. (Sand int used ta, avaid water retention, which fosters mold, bacteria and weed growth.) For more information about an 'ils bakd wadtinWdS fesperate of some serious ILC. SimPlY oy replacing the tired, worn-out- grass with an artificial Iawn from AGL and creating a charming walkway, the area has been transformed inta a relaxing and beautiful living space. environmentally-friendly, lusis iawn caîl AGL at lawn, visit Mattamy Homes' Hawthorne Villge 905 643-5000. and check out tbeir model bornes on Derry To see first-band what AGL can do for your Road. NOW'OPENI Presenting Appleby Woods, a revolutionary develojSment from Del Ridge Homes. Located in piçturesque Burington at the. corner of Upper Middle Road and Appleby Une, Appleby Woods is Burbngton's first and only development that uses zero non-renewable resources. TUES FR' By p Pk*ffnt (~ p~ i oO SAIUN&-CI c oomi à oài iniUn BURLN~TO~$ T,43MU JTY TO USE REN~W 'Enebud 7000 - en ergy Grudmr oigedu % AOn grid êecftkg oit mod o cr arraYS SPLUS, many mmff envIimxr«yty conscînus knnovtiom A101 genem<rupe$from n7to 1,2" 6 auo hft Wbcâg sS týDd www.aPPIObYwoo<Js.corn 1-1.877.4794 AI pIoogphnid bat&o-s dr«flot n.o op eotaiwfeaso m oeeent. *,"W*y i at A4ppIatsy Wood. Fille.«bd Bpociorm nu mMeC o &ta chanemlau oe. .Irad ~8Si' oorSMptE. & 0.E. fArt 50 poecaergnae toed for aa nce wk 9 ta IS.Slma aa.ntiv rdn. I Il Ve iý, 2'067