As consumers are becoming more conscious about the impacts that chemicals have on their bodies and the environment, people are looking for more eco-friendly ways to rid their lawn of ugly weeds while maintaining a lush, green yard. Pet and child friendly lawn care is important in today’s home and land maintenance. Most homeowners do not want harsh chemicals hurting themselves, their loved ones, animals and planet.
As governments pass legislation to make the use of chemicals in many outdoor products illegal, the need for more eco-friendly, healthier grass care habits is even more important for property owners who want a lush greenspace surrounding their home.
To keep your grass green and less weedy, these natural tips are eco-friendly and effective:
1. Water Once a Week
If there is no rain in the forecast to naturally moisturize your lawn, watering it once a week will give your ground enough moisture to keep the grass green and growing. When sprinkling your landscape, it is best to do it early in the morning before the sun gets too hot. It’s also important to avoid overwatering. Rather than wasting natural resources by running the sprinkler system until the soil is completely saturated, giving your lawn two to three centimeters of the vital fluid is enough to keep it hydrated.
2. Use the Right Lawn Mower
Push lawnmowers are typically the better choice because they do not require harmful gas or electricity to operate. If a reel mower is not desirable for you, look for one that is environmentally friendly to avoid the harsh fuel emissions that add pollutants to your yard.
3. Proper Grass Cutting
Cutting your grass properly will help it thrive but improper cutting can do more harm than good. While many homeowners like short, clean lawns, the grass should never be shorter than seven centimeters in length. Cutting the grass too short will deprive the blades of vital nutrients and stress the plant. Use sharpened blades for clean cuts. Dull blades are harmful because they slash and tear and lawn, increasing the risk of disease, bugs, and other infestations.
4. Leave the Clippings
Many home owners bag and discard the clippings to keep their lawn clean and nice looking. But the clippings provide your grass with the best nutrients and fertilizer to grow a healthier lawn. Rather than shun the chopped offerings, leave them and let mother nature do it’s work.
5. Seed Yearly
Adding plenty of seed to your landscape in the spring will help keep your green space lush and green. The more grass growing on your earth, the less room there is for invasive plants to invade.
6. Pull Weeds
For all your efforts, some weeds will manage to make their way into your lawn. Pulling them early when the ground is moist will remove the unsightly invaders and limit their spread.
7. Aerate Your Lawn
Spring and fall are the best times to aerate your lawn. By puncturing holes systemically in the ground, essential oxygen and other nutrients can penetrate deep into the soil to feed the dirt and roots, giving your grass the nutrition, it needs to grow stronger and healthier.
8. Apply Corn Gluten
Corn gluten is an environmentally safe, natural fertilizer that is also a great weed repellant. For best results, spread the corn powder on your lawn in spring and fall to prevent weeds from growing.
As more property owners become environmentally and socially conscious of the harmful effects pollutants have on our planet, our health and the health of our loved ones and beloved pets, they are choosing more eco-friendly methods to maintain a beautiful, weed free lawn.