We put considerable effort into planning our gardens.
What plants should we add this year? What needs pruning or dividing? Do our gardens need to be fertilized? How will we water them? Will we weed them ourselves or hire out the weeding and maintenance?
There’s nothing wrong with devoting our time and resources to growing the most beautiful flower gardens and the most prolific vegetable gardens in the neighborhood. But how much thought do we put into our lawns? After all, grass is a plant too!
With so much surface area, our lawn is a habitat for beneficial insects…and harmful pests. And anything we do to our lawn, from mowing to fertilizing to pest control, impacts our local ecosystem.
Take a proactive approach to lawn care this summer with some eco-friendly lawn care tips for healthier, more sustainable lawns!
Compost for Healthy Soil
When organic materials break down naturally, they create nutrient-rich soil. Avid gardeners love adding compost to their flower and vegetable beds for healthier plants and greater yields. But have you ever thought about adding compost to your lawn?
Grasscycling is an easy way to compost and doesn’t require any extra effort! Instead of raking or bagging your grass clippings—and adding to the 10.5 million tons of lawn castoffs in landfills each year—allow them to decay and release nutrients back into your lawn. It’s a gift that keeps on giving…and can reduce fertilizer demands by up to 30%!
Another way to use compost to boost your lawn health is by spraying it with compost tea. Just like the tea we drink is derived from beneficial plants, flowers, and herbs steeped in water, compost tea is compost steeped in water…and sprayed on your lawn! It’s like a vitamin cocktail for your grass! Compost tea helps it resist pests, helps your grass, plants, and trees develop more mature root systems, and improves soil health, water retention, and soil structure. Purchase it at your local garden center, or try your hand at homemade compost tea with this easy recipe!
In addition to grasscycling and compost tea, if you want to boost your soil, avoid chemical fertilizers that could harm beneficial insects and pollute your municipal water supply. Instead, choose a reputable organic fertilizer and apply it according to the manufacturer’s directions, being careful not to over-fertilize and fry your lawn.
Mulch is a great way to curb the spread of weeds and retain moisture near your plants’ root systems. Also, because it’s organic matter just like grass clippings, leaves, and plant trimmings, it decomposes over time and adds nutrients back into your soil—another one of Mother Nature’s gifts that helps keep your lawn green and lush!
Implement Water Conservation Techniques
When it comes to maintaining your lawn, it’s easy to waste water. Water your lawn smarter and reduce the demand on your local freshwater supply…and your utility bill!
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Water early in the day. This will help your lawn retain maximum moisture instead of losing water to evaporation.
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Keep your grass longer. It feels good to give your lawn a thorough mowing. Just be careful not to mow it shorter than 2”. Longer grass helps your soil retain moisture, reducing the demand for watering. It also promotes deeper turf root systems and can help with weed control!
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Install a drip irrigation system. Did you know that, even though residential lawns only account for 2% of U.S. land, they demand more water than any agricultural crop? Conserve water by installing a drip irrigation system. These systems give your lawn the moisture it needs while using 30-70% less water than traditional sprinkler systems!
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Invest in a rain barrel. Collect rainwater and use that to water your lawn and gardens. It’s a simple and effective way to reduce your freshwater demand.
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Plant a rain garden. Instead of traditional gardens, plant rain gardens with a variety of colorful, moisture-loving plants. Not only do rain gardens rarely need external watering, but they filter pollutants through their soil and gravel and control runoff.
Control Pests Naturally
Whether you’ve got sod webworms nibbling your grass blades or grubs eating the roots of your turf, pesky insects are a common problem. While it’s easy to go right for the pesticides at your local big box store or garden center, consider treating pest problems naturally and keeping chemicals out of your local creeks, lakes, and other waterways. In addition to protecting local water bodies, natural pest control can be just as effective and much safer for your family members, four-legged friends included! Some eco-friendly pesticides include diatomaceous earth, neem oil, and essential oils like peppermint, thyme, and rosemary.
Consider Reducing Your Lawn Size
In the same way that it costs more money to keep up a larger home, a bigger lawn requires more: more water, more fertilizer, more pesticides, more everything! Downsizing your lawn will not only save you time—there’s less to maintain!—but it’s an eco-friendly solution you can feel good about!
- One way to reduce your lawn size is by replacing some of your turf with groundcover plants. They spread easily and come in many different textures and colors! Plus, they require less mowing, reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. And they require less water, reducing the demand for fresh water.
Often, homeowners replace turf with rocks and groundcover plants, particularly on hills that are hard to mow. The plants grow beautifully over, around, and between the rocks for unique and elegant landscaping. - Similarly, you can create a xeriscape. Replace grass with mulch, rocks, soil, and drought-resistant plants for a sustainable yard you don’t have to mow, treat, or water! Learn more here!
Choose Native Plants
Before you plant new trees, shrubs, or plants, research what’s native to your area. When you choose native plants, you reap many environmental benefits:
- Native plants require less water.
- Native plants don’t need fertilizer.
- Native plants don’t require pesticides.
- Native plants control erosion.
- Native plants help restore natural habitats.
- Native plants require less maintenance.
When you cultivate a native lawn and garden environment, you’ll find it’s more self-sustaining and requires fewer resources, lessening the demand for water, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.
Convert Your Lawn to Clover
A clover lawn is beautiful, requires less water and little to no mowing, combats weeds, attracts pollinators, and grows well in sun or shade. Clover doesn’t need fertilizer to thrive and is drought tolerant. If you’re ready to switch to an eco-friendly (and cost-effective!) lawn, consider making the switch!
Even though the 4th of July is behind us, there’s plenty of summer left to enjoy. If your gardens are getting out of hand, the professionals at McDonough Landscaping would love to help. We can come out to your house and do a one-time planting bed clean-up! Does your lawn need a boost? Ask us about our lawn maintenance services. Call us at 651.755.7901 or contact us here!
