5 Tips to Green Your Summer Lawn

Love the idea of a green summer lawn as much as you hate the idea of its environmental cost? Read on for some tips on what you can do to help grow a lawn that will use less water, has fewer weeds, and doesn’t require chemicals that will cause harmful runoff or be tracked into your home.

1) Raise your lawnmower’s height.Taking off more than 1/3 of the height of the grass at any one time will seriously hurt your lawn’s ability to photosynthesize. Leaving a taller lawn will not mean you have to mow more frequently. A taller lawn will also shade weeds from the life-giving sun.

2) Mulch your grass clippings.Use the mower’s mulching setting to return extra nutrients to the lawn. If you need the green matter for compost, great! Otherwise, leave the clippings on the ground!

3) Water infrequently. Only water when the grass leaves start to curl just before they turn brown. By doing this consistently you can train your lawn to grow deeper roots. Deeper roots means that when the upper few inches of soil are very dry, the grass roots will be able to reach the moist layers, while weeds wither and die. One thing you should do is try to ensure that sprinklers are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. A properly adjusted sprinkler should spray large droplets instead of fine mist, which increases evaporation and loss due to wind drift.

4) Plant large trees. Planting deciduous, shade trees on the south and west side of the house can reduce summer cooling costs and lower energy consumption, which also translates into reduced carbon emissions. Trees are also valuable in shading paved areas to help reduce heat in your landscape. Shrubs and wildflowers can also provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for wildlife.

5) Avoid planting invasive species. Growing a great lawn organically may take a few years to get great results, and you will not likely ever have Yankee Stadium conditions in the backyard. If you can deal with a few weeds here and there and would like to create a healthier home for yourself, your children, and your pets, the organic approach is for you. If you need a ballpark lawn that glows neon green right after the first snowmelt, you may not be ready yet.

If you want full details on landscaping, stay in touch with Green Irene as a full Green Irene Guide to Landscaping will be launched in the next few weeks. You will be able to access this guide by gaining subscription to Ask Green Irene, a service provided after receiving a Green Home Makeover. For more info on going green, please contact Jim Armbrust at (717) 215-4030 or by email, jim.camphill@greenirene.com.

Jim Armbrust, Authorized Green Irene Eco-Consultant

jim.camphill@greenirene.com

www.GreenIrene.com/JimCampHill