Going Green with Lawncare

It is just about time to start working on the yard again. This year, try to go green while taking care of your lawn and make your lawn more safe for your pets, children and even wildlife. It is easy, rewarding and sometimes costs less than traditional lawn care. Want to know how to go green?

There is many small things that you can do that won't cost a dime. One is to catch rain water in barrels and then use that water for watering the lawn and plants. By using rain water, you are not wasting a valuable resource and you are using water that we haven't added chlorine and other contaminants to. I like to use extra large pickle jars with lids so that I can store some water for later.

Also, only water your yard when it looks like it is starting to dry out. By watering the lawn infrequently but saturating it when you do the grass roots become strong and helps prevent weeds from growing. Another is to not to spray down the sidewalks and driveway but to save them for the rain. These places have oil and other residues that kill grass and pollute the waterways.

However, going green with a green lawn requires more than using water wisely. There is fertilization to consider. Instead of buying lawn fertilizer, use compost. The compost is a totally natural way to nourish your yard or garden. While compost can be bought at nurseries or some department stores, compost can be made at home for little or no cost. Creating your own compost heap is a great way to save money, help the environment, and grow healthy plants.

Believe it or not there is green pesticides and herbicides on the lawn care market. One type is corn gluten meal. Corn gluten is a minimum risk pesticide. It is also a popular herbicide that prevents the growth of new weeds. The nitrogen level of corn gluten makes it a wonderful fertilizer as well. Unfortunately, the corn gluten can be harmful to people with corn allergies. However, the corn gluten is safe enough to be fed to our pets, cows and poultry. This application requires a drying period which I found hard to time because of sudden rainfalls.

Green lawn care isn't something to concern yourself with only on summer weekends. Even during winter you can do things to help keep your lawn 'in the green'. When the snow and ice on your steps and sidewalk need attention, then choose a product that won't pollute your yard with ice water runoff. If you use rock salt, try not to use very much. Salt can damage the ecosystem, and hurt your pets feet. And remember that salt doesn't work under 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Deicers consisting of calcium chloride is a better choice than rock salt because it works in temperatures down to negative 23 degrees Fahrenheit without the higher chloride output that comes with magnesium, calcium and sodium chlorides.

Plants and flowers should be mulched. This will improve the view, help keep the plants roots moist, and slow down the development of weed growth. However, if a few weeds do develop, then pull them by hand or with a garden trowel instead of grabbing pesticides. Also plants that are native to the area is the best to have because you won't have to be overly concerned with parasites, predators, and dehydration or over watering.

So if you are considering going with green lawn care this year, try these tips. I'm sure that you will find that having a green lawn is well worth any extra effort. You will be happy having a green lawn that you are proud of and knowing that you are doing your part to keep the planet green.

Some information is from the Corn Gluten Meal- A Natural Lawn Care Herbicide, at Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, and Green Landscaping at Long View, and Road Salts and Deicers at Green Venture. Temperature conversion by Convert This.