5 Tips for Low-Energy Lawn Care

Ok, I get it. You don't want to dig up your lawn and plant a vegetable garden. Lawns can be good for some things, I guess--a family game of touch football, Frisbee golf, throwing tennis balls for the dog, etc. Plus, I admit, it totally sucks when you make a gorgeous diving catch of the ole' pigskin right into your tomato trellis. (No I haven't done it, but this guy I know...)

So, if you must have a lawn, how can you keep it in a way that doesn't require constant watering, chemical fertilizers, and emission-spewing lawnmower...ing?

Jon Clift and Amanda Cuthbert, authors of Water: Use Less--Save More, have a few tips.

1. Let the grass grow longer on your lawns. Cutting it short encourages growth, which needs lots of water. Plus, longer lawns last longer!
2. Aerate and spike lawns early in the season to promote deep roots.
3. Don't feed your lawn fertilizers; this encourages excessive growth and requires lots of water.
4. When you cut your lawn, leave the cuttings on it. This will reduce moisture loss and return nutrients to the soil--making next year's lawn greener without chemicals. (If your lawn is really overgrown, compost the first cut.)
5. Exercise, not engines! Using a push-mower will cut your carbon emissions, discourage over-cutting, and get you some much needed exercise. Yes. You.

For more quick tips about greening your life, check out the Chelsea Green Guide Series of pocket guides.

Comments

[retroredux]

a no power reel mower question for anyone who has used one?

I'm thinking of buying one-we have a very small yard, but it is St. Augustine grass. Is this a problem for the old time reel mowers?

We have a guy that cuts the grass and does the whole thing in less than a half hour, but I'm thinking of a greener alternative as well as we need to cut back financially ($60 a month- cut once every two weeks)

Which brand reel mower works best for St Augustine?

Thanks for your help:)

[peaceplumber]

My chickens keep my lawn well trimed and lay real eggs.

It's a win-win

[moonflowerjewelry]

plant clover and wildflowers and let it go wild!

[entropygal]

Advice for homeowners. Replace 1/2 of back yard lawn or 2/3 in front yard with rock, bark or low water ground cover. Less water and care is needed. Most people do not use the full yard and this approach is especially applicable in the Arizona desert where I live.

[joeneri]

Plant trees, ferns and other undergrowth, and grow a forest.

Let the elves cut the lawn.

[joeneri]

I do all those things and have saved quite a bit of money on my water bill.

However, none of these strategies suppresses the weeds. They're as much a problem as they've always been. Consequently, I get more exercise pulling weeds than cutting the lawn.

And edging the lawn ain't no bed of roses, either!

[jimrs6]

My 30 year old 2 stoke engine lawnmower leaves a thick cloud of heavy blue smoke that makes the lawn lush and green.

[Ray46]

Get 8 - 15 sheep per acre. Free fertilizer, wool, and meat.

Wooly Lawn Mowers for Fun and Profit
http://www.homestead.org/AllenaJackson/WoolyMowers/WoolyLawnMowers.htm

[plantguy]

Sounds like this person don't want a lawn, some people take great pride in their lawn.

[frantaylor]

Do you take great pride in wasting thousands and thousands of gallons of otherwise potable water? Your taxes paid for extensive treatment and cleaning of water that is just wasted.

[StanlyManly]

Great pride in a lawn? Seriously?

How much did that pride cost? How many man hours does it take to maintain? Could you take that same amount of time and money, and perhaps feed a starving child and read them a book? Would you feel less proud of that?

[Egalitare]

Lawns are overrated.

[drkazmd65]

Step 1 of having a 'greener' lawn,... Don't have a lawn.

My goal - to have all of my 0.06 acre lawn in patio, vegetable garden, flower beds (native, non-intensive), and perennial shrubs within the next two years.

After that,... you really don't need steps 2-5.

[StanlyManly]

Lawn is ridiculous. I'm not pro "green", but its just one of the worst things you can do to yourself. I've had lawnless landscaping for 7 years now, and I love it. Hardly use any water, looks great, and minimal maintenance. Oh, and absolutely zero mowing.

I think the industry term is "dryscaping". Look into it. Not just for the "green" aspect, but just to make your life easier.

[Semaj51]

From actual experience in cutting lawns with push-mowers, one of the greatest day in my life was when my father brought home a power mower.

[prospace]

I'm jealous of your moss, Thor. Too hot for it where I live.

Since I have grass, I'm glad I got a push reel mower. it's much kinder to protruding tree roots.

[trimom]

I'm jealous of the moss too. We have some, but I would prefer it if it covered the whole lawn.

[THORGODOFTHUNDER]

Moss grows in my area real well. I have encouraged it and it looks great.