Green Grass is what this neighbourhood wants

Condo Corporation in Ottawa responds to environmental challenges

By Paul Fitzgerald

Condominium companies all across Canada are responding to changing times - that is, with the new environmental challenges that exist - all while managing their properties.

A case in point is the Carleton Condo Corp Number 37 in Ottawa (South Nepean), ON, which owns a large number of units on Midland Crescent. Jean Cottam, who has long been an advocate for eliminating the use of pesticides and conserving water, serves as a senior member of the Carleton Condo Corp Board. She knows there are new eco-safe solutions out there that work and are extremely effective in creating greener and healthier lawns.

For her and her team, they know all too well that traditional grass seeds and management tools available are simply not working. Through lengthy research and hearing good things via word of mouth, Number 37 will now use a new grass seed this spring - a seed that is now creating lots of buzz right across Canada.

This seed - RTF Water Saver Grass Seed (distributed by RTF Water Saver Canada) - according to Ms. Cottam, addresses major issues they have faced including water conservation. Not to mention the value it can offer improving aesthetics and uniformity for these properties.

“Ordinary grass seed is just not doing the job and we need new solutions”, says Cottam during an interview. “For us here in Ottawa, like other parts of Ontario and Canada, we need to re-seed after long and rough winters, and during the summers we experience brown lawns due to heat and drought.”

She adds, “We can’t replace a lawn with clover. Since 2007 we ceased using herbicides, we also stopped using fertilizer. Our grass always seems quite depleted, so we needed something different and effective and this is why we are using RTF Water Saver Grass Seed.”

It can be said that while clover offers some exciting properties such as fixing nitrogen, when it comes to high end properties, it may not offer that desired appearance the neighbourhood wants.

Another topic becoming more top of mind to builders and homeowners is that lawns typically require more input costs that any other outdoor space. The self-repairing and deep rooting feature of RTF Water Saver enables this plant to have a greater root mass to maximize soil, water and nutrients below and maintains plan integrity. RTF is a water sipper and is also less impacted by environmental influences (insects & disease).

“[RTF Water Saver] is great and will strengthen the look and feel of our area, especially in the spring and during our long hot summers” states Cottam. “We want a grass seed that is resistant to drought and one which insects and pests don't like. RTF Water Saver is the solution we have been looking for.”

RTF Water Saver Grass Seed has recently garnered the support from some well-known leaders in the industry including Carson Arthur, a popular TV personality and landscape designer, as well as Sean James who sits as the Chair of the Landscape Ontario (LO) Environmental Stewardship Committee and Founder and Principle Owner of Fern Ridge Landscaping in Milton, ON. Across Canada the word is catching on that RTF Water Saver grass seed is the new and viable solution for lawn care.

Ryan Streatch, national sales agents and spokesperson for RTF Water Saver Canada, is a proponent that a growing number of Canadians are seeking solutions to the increasing challenges in establishing and maintaining a healthy, sustainable lawn. As is evident in the initiatives being taken by Jean Cottam of Carleton Condo Corp, there are now viable alternatives that not only address many of the environmental challenges we face but can help reduce maintenance costs too. When it comes to being green, a little seed like RTF Water Saver can help reduce our environmental footprint.

“Lawns are a natural part of our being and offer immense value to our daily lives,” according to Streatch, “I am pleased to see various groups – from landscapers, homeowners and municipalities to condominium companies – are now even more committed to using a product that is working to make a positive difference for the environment, customer satisfaction and the pocket book. It’s great to know RTF Water Saver Grass Seed is a leader in the new environmental movement.”