Taking care of your yard does not have to mean compromising the
health of Mother Earth. Follow these tips to implement more
environmentally-friendly practices into your lawn care routine.
Get rid of your gas-powered lawn mower
If you are looking for more
environmentally-friendly ways to take care of your lawn, a good place to start
is by purchasing an electric or battery-powered lawn mower. Gas-powered devices are bad for the
environment in many ways. The air pollutants that gas-powered mowers produce
have a negative impact on the environment. Also, fossil fuels are often sourced
in ways that harm the surrounding ecosystem. Electric lawn mowers are now
widespread and can be purchased from most home improvement stores. An even more
cost effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to
gas-powered lawn mowers are manual push mowers.
Make sure you are planting the correct type of grass for your climate
There are several varieties of grass that have
different looks and textures. These different types of grass also have
different needs and thrive in different environments. By making sure you are
growing the correct type of grass for your climate, you will use fewer
resources and benefit your yard's surrounding ecosystem. For this reason, you
should research the best types of grass to plant in your area. Some states
contain multiple climate zones. For example, the climate of New York's Southern Tier region may favor a
different type of grass than the climate of New York's North Country region.
Set your lawn mower blade higher
The longer your grass is, the stronger and
healthier it will become. By setting your mower blade three and a half to three inches, your grass
will stay longer and create a larger surface area on each blade of grass. The
more surface area a blade of grass has, the more sunlight it will be able to
absorb. Longer and thicker grass also prevents runoff and keeps land from
eroding.
Reuse your lawn clippings
Maintaining the correct soil nutrient content
is an important part of lawn care that is sometimes overlooked. By keeping
grass clippings on your lawn, you allow nutrients from the clippings to be
absorbed back into your yard. This is a good way to increase the
health of your lawn while also preventing erosion and runoff.
Water your lawn wisely
Watering your yard is a great way to ensure
that your grass does not dry out and die. However, some of the more common
watering methods such as the use of sprinklers often use up a large amount of water. This can take a toll on the environment
and may lead to more expensive utility bills. While sprinklers are convenient,
you may consider exploring more eco-friendly watering methods. Recycling
rainwater is an effective and environmentally-friendly way to water your lawn.
By directing water from your gutters onto the grass, you can make sure your
yard receives the right amount of water. Alternatively, you may opt to save
rainwater in barrels for later use.
It is important to preserve the environment
for future generations and to keep the well-being of your surrounding ecosystem
in mind. By following these tips, you will grow a healthier lawn in a more
environmentally-friendly way.
