From my green tips blog

Last week I mentioned the number of people I’ve seen who have been taking out their front lawns – putting in front yard gardens, fruit trees, low water ground covers or succulents, even rock gardens. It’s a great trend, but there is still a lot of grass out there. Is there a way to be more green and keep some grass?

Yes – feed low, cut high! The transition to greener lawn care may take a few years, but you will be left with healthier grass, and no toxic substances for your kids and pets to roll around in.

Clippings: One of best and simplest steps is to make sure the grass trimmings are left on the grass – don’t bag them up and toss them. Some say these grass clippings are all the fertilizer your lawn needs; others contend that this will cut your lawn feeding in half. Either way, it’s better for your lawn and less work for you, so why not? And, no, leaving the clippings on the lawn does not lead to thatch – it is an accumulation of dead grass caused by over fertilizing, and excessive watering. Or, by your dog peeing in the same spot.

Cut high: Set your mower to it’s highest setting. Taller grass results in both shading for the plants roots, decreasing watering needs. It also makes it harder for weeds, and crabgrass to compete, much harder.

Compost and seed: annually. Rake in compost each Spring and Fall to feed the soil – plain, simple, organic compost. It’s full of everything you need. Also, at the end of the summer – add local grass seed, everywhere, especially thin spots. Thicker grass, like taller grass, makes it harder for the weeds to compete.

Water early: In the morning, there is less wind to blow the water away, and less sun to evaporate it. Water less often but for longer times – once or twice a week for longer times is better than frequent short watering. You want the roots to grow deep, not shallow.

What about weed and feed fertilizers? Non-organic fertilizers tend to green up your lawn quickly, but deplete the soils natural materials, so you are stuck with having to continue adding fertilizer very frequently – constantly adding chemicals. I see a lot of lawns where people are using chemical weed and feeds, and they have a ton of clover and yellow areas.

⁃ Leave the clippings
⁃ Mow high
⁃ Compost and seed annually
⁃ Water less often for longer

If you have someone taking care of your lawn, you need to educate them. While they may know about cutting the grass high, they may think you want it cut short. Be an educated consumer and ask your lawn maintenance people to abide by these greener practices. More information, including DVD instructional materials for homeowners and lawn care providers at:

http://grassrootsinfo.org

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