A Green Spring Lawn

Don’t forget about the lawn, too.  Spring cleaning often continues outside the house itself, and many people use incredibly toxic materials to keep their lawns green.  Your lawn could be using too much water, spreading non native plants into areas where they outcompete existing ones, and putting fertilizer and weed killer into the waterway.

Conventional mowing is also noisy and polluting, plus it uses up a lot of oil (lawn mower motors aren’t terribly efficient).  A quieter, more environmentally friendly mower is an excellent choice.  Just remember that with old fashioned human powered mowers or electric ones, you may need to mow a little more often.  Some of these machines do best when they don’t have to deal with a lot of grass at once, and can clog if you go weeks between moving sessions.

The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to make a difference with your lawn.  Choose grasses that are drought resistant and natives if possible.  If you feel you must water your lawn, do it with greywater - drain water from the sink, shower, or washing machine - and use detergents that won’t affect the soil or plants.  To cut down on water used for the lawn, use low pressure sprinklers and pay attention to whether the lawn is being overwatered.  Water either in the morning or evening, and avoid watering when there’s a heavy dew.  Unless the grass looks thirsty, you don’t need to water at all, either.  Aerators will help you encourage your lawn to grow deeper and need less water.

Cut your grass longer in the spring and summer so it’ll use less moisture, and use a mulching mower if possible.  Electric mowers and mechanical mowers are preferable to gasoline powered ones.  Avoid fertilizer if you can, and use seaweed, manure, or other organic fertilizers instead of synthetics if you feel like fertilizing is a requirement.  Never over apply a fertilizer - this can run into the water system and cause algae problems, plus it’ll damage your grass in many cases.  Chemical fertilizers are powerful substances, so make sure you follow manufacturer’s directions if you choose to use them on your lawn or in your garden.

Weed killer should be avoided in the yard and in the garden, since it causes environmental problems and weeds can even become resistant to it.  Use hot water or the hot water and salt mixture listed above, or just pull weeds by hand.  If you’re going to be doing some landscaping in the future, you may wish to consider xeriscaping, particularly if you live in an area where grasses aren’t native.  In arid parts of the world, using local plants and setting your lawn up as part of the local landscape will save you money, use less water and be healthier for the local environment, too.  You’ll also be amazed by the local wildlife you’ll attract!

Relax a few standards, too.  Over the years, we’ve become convinced that if a home isn’t hospital-clean, it’s not a good place to live.  However, there are many differences between hospitals and homes - your home probably isn’t full of sick people with compromised immune systems.  By scrubbing and disinfecting constantly, you’re creating a less healthy place that requires a lot of upkeep and may even cause you stress.  A home that’s not magazine ready can still be a healthy, welcoming place, and you’ll spend less of your time keeping it that way, too.