When we think of summer in America, almost immediately we think of backyard barbecues. Nearly half of American home owners have a lawn (50/107 million). This can have a huge impact on the environment if our yards are not taken care of properly. So here are a few tips on how to keep your lawn green the way nature intended (or at least close to it):
-Bigger is not always better
A smaller lawn means less mowing and less chemicals. Plus it can
leave you room to get more creative with walkways and "steppable"
plants (creeping thyme, etc). Just make sure anything you plant will
work with your region.
-Mowin' it old school
Using a gas lawn mower for one hour is the equivalent to driving
11 hours (according to the EPA). Using a mechanical push mower is
energy and emission free (and a good workout).
-If you don't want it in your house, don't put it on your lawn
Using herbicides and pesticides on your lawn is not only harmful
to the environment, they also get tracked into your house on shoes
and pets. A good alternative is aerating your lawn on a regular basis
(and make sure you use the old fashioned push model too). Using
pesticides will also disrupt the natural balance of bugs in your lawn,
killing not only the bad, but the good along with them.
-Don't let the man get you down
Scott's company (part of the $40 Billion lawn care business)
promoted Clover as a natural way to feed your lawn it's daily dose of
nitrogen. That is until they introduced "weed and feed", which kills
clover.
-Stay true to your roots
Deeper roots help your lawn stay healthy in long periods without
rain. Rocks and earthworms will naturally aerate and fertilize your
lawn. A great way to fertilize and reduce your carbon footprint is
using a compost bin. You can purchase one at your local garden center
or build you own.
I hope this helps you enjoy a guilt-free summer. for tips on green gardening, check out this link. If you have any tips of your own, feel free to leave it in the comments.
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