Inexpensive, Eco-Friendly Green Lawn Care
by (ARA)
(ARA)
2008-02-14 12:38:54.0
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Mowing
A few easy maintenance procedures will help your mower last longer, saving you money, and give you a clean cut for a good-looking lawn. Change the oil, clean the air filter and remove debris from the air passages around the engine. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for this cost-saving maintenance.
Sharpen the blade every four to five mowings. A sharp blade cuts leaves rather than shredding them. This helps in two ways. First, a cut leaf heals quickly, resulting in an appealing, green lawn. Shredding leaves results in a pale lawn that is prone to disease. Second, a sharp blade cuts faster and easier, saving both fuel and time.
For northern lawn types such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass, mow only to 2 1/2 inches. Mowing height varies for different grasses in Southern lawns: 1 1/2 inches for bermudagrass, 2 1/2 inches for St. Augustine grass, and 1 inch for centipede grass. For all grasses, only remove up to one-third of the height of your grass. Mulch your clippings and leave them on the lawn. This recycles nutrients back to the lawn and reduces the use of valuable landfill space. Both these actions are very eco-friendly.
Fertilizing
Returning clippings to the lawn does not replace all the nutrients used for growth. To keep your lawn green and healthy, supplement these clippings with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. “Universities recommend using slow-release nitrogen for lawns,” says Mike Archer of Milorganite. “Eco-friendly Milorganite 5-2-0 contains over 85 percent slow-release nitrogen.”
“Recommended nitrogen rates are also dropping,” he adds. “Using Milorganite, with its non-staining iron, will help give lawns the deep, green color homeowner’s desire, making up for using less nitrogen. Iron greens lawns without causing growth. This reduces mowing frequency and water use.”
Seeding
Select seed varieties that are eco-friendly. For the central and northern parts of the United States, fine-leafed fescues, especially the newer varieties, give you a great looking lawn. By their nature, fescues are water misers and require only low amounts of fertilizer. Fescues have improved to the point where they are used on many sports fields.
Watering
Irrigation is probably your largest single lawn care expense. To help save money, plant turf varieties such as fescues that are water misers. Irrigate to rooting depth. Frequent, shallow watering promotes shallow rooting. Shallow rooting results in lawns that are not drought resistant.
Pest control
Eco-friendly pest control is possible. Through a process called Integrated Pest Management, IPM, you make several eco-friendly decisions. First, you decide how much of a pest your lawn can tolerate without causing damage. Second, you choose an eco-friendly way to eliminate those pests your lawn cannot tolerate. Third, you raise plants that tend to be pest resistant. Each region of the country has different pests. Contact your local county horticultural agent for IPM tips for your area.
Native plantings
Another way to reduce the cost of your maintaining your lawn is to introduce native plants in your back lot, out of the way areas. This eco-friendly practice provides food and cover for wildlife. “Use an eco-friendly fertilizer such as Milorganite 5-2-0 to establish these areas,” Archer advises. “Milorganite’s slow-release nitrogen is gentle on slow starting native plants.” Many nurseries and greenhouses sell native plants and can give you advice on those that are best for you.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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