Keeping Your Lawn Green In Every Way
Ask yourself if your beautiful verdant summer lawn is truly sustainable, and it is more than possible that your answer will be No! Unless you use no fertilizer, no pesticides, mow the grass with a push mower, and use run-off water to keep it moist, you are not doing your part in keeping your yard as eco-friendly as you could. We all can do our part in helping the planet, and in this case it really does start right in your own front yard.
Here are some suggestions on how to make your outdoors “greener”:
• Think about creating more garden space instead of lawn space. Add plant beds, brick or stone walkways, or a patio to keep lawn maintenance down. Make small vegetable and herb gardens using organic gardening practices to provide your family with fresh produce while you lower your grocery bills at the same time.
• Buy low-input turf grass, which requires less water and nutrients for growth. This type of grass also does not to be cut as frequently as traditional grass species.
• Don’t cut your grass all the way down to the ground. Having a longer leaf allows the soil to retain moisture and produces less seed germination of weeds.
• Don’t clean up your grass cuttings. Using them as mulch will contribute nutrients to your lawn.
• Compost your scraps. Using organic waste from your home such as fruit and vegetable peels, apple cores, and eggshells makes a nutrient-rich compound that will help your soil gain and maintain important nutrients. Mixing composted materials into the soil also helps it retain water and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers while reducing municipal waste.
To learn more about composting: http://vegweb.com/composting/
• Use organic fertilizers and pest control materials. By going organic you reduce poisoned wastewater runoff, thus protecting your family and your pets from toxins. There also are many plants and flowers you can border your lawn with that will keep unwanted creatures away. Some of these include Queen Anne’s Lace, Daisies, Black Eyed Susans, Asters, Marigolds, and Peonies.
• When you water your lawn, saturate it thoroughly to create deeply rooted grass. Water early in the morning to avoid evaporation. Invest in a rain barrel and use what is collected to irrigate your lawn (and wash your car, dishes, body, and even drink if its filtered!) If you must use a sprinkler, make sure it does not leak and that it sprays only the lawn so you don’t waste a drop. Make sure the sprinkler system comes with a rain sensor so that it does not turn on automatically after a storm.
For more information on how to customize your yard, consult a local gardening and landscaping service that specializes in organic methods.
-Michele Kadison
