Sustainable Lawn Options

     A sustainable lawn is considered to be a lawn that impacts the environment in the smallest way possible. One would think that a lawn would be easy on the environment. However, that is not the case. The excess use of water to grow grasses in unnatural grass climates, and the continuous pollution from fertilizers and lawn mowers takes a large toll on the environment. There are many ways to reduce these negative environmental aspects of having a beautiful lawn.

     • Lawn mowers. They are always a problem for the environment. To lessen their impact, keep the lawn mower maintained, tuning it after every 25 hours of mowing. This allows the mower to pollute less. Another option is to cut your grass with a mulching mower. The mulching will allow for the old grass clippings to naturally fertilize the lawn. Better yet, trade your old model in and replace it with a carbon free mower, such as a push reel mower. This too allows for mulch.      • Grass length. During dry months keep your lawn taller. The longest length is dependent on the grass type. Only water between 5 AM and 10 AM when the grass is most receptive to watering.

     • Irrigation controllers are a good way to control water runoff. Set the controller for two shorter periods, allowing for soak up time in between. Add an automatic shut off system for when untimely rain waters your lawn for you.

     • Use mulch, clover, and compost to fertilize your lawn. Compost can be spread in a one inch layer over the lawn. It will feed and improve the soil so it can support positive subterranean flora and fauna. The clover fixes nitrogen from the air, making it more available to your lawn in the soil. Cornmeal gluten is also a natural fertilizer. It also is a weed preventative and is 10 percent nitrogen by weight.

     • Hand pull or dig out weeds. Don’t use herbicides! Herbicides kill good bugs, and aren’t good for surrounding animals, or you! The herbicides may run off into irrigation systems and other bodies of water, spreading far and wide.

     • When starting a new lawn, start from seed, not from sod. This lowers the use of resources you are using to complete your new lawn.

     • You can replace your existing irrigation system with a subsurface drip system. These systems are ninety to one hundred percent efficient in comparison to spray irrigation systems are seventy percent efficiensustt. This will reduce water waste!

     • Weeds aren’t always bad! They supply food to small local animals.

     • Choose native grasses. This lessens the toll of keeping up imported grasses in an environment they aren’t comfortable with. Native grasses will grow easier with much less maintenance, lowering their negative effects on the environment.