Garden / Lawn
Inexpensive, Eco-Friendly Green Lawn Care
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(ARA) - Times are tough. The household budget is tight, and you are bombarded with the expectation of being green. Plus, you want a nice lawn. Are being eco-friendly and green compatible with a nice lawn? Yes, when you make use of some easy tips. Mowing
A few easy maintenance procedures will help your mower last longer, saving you money, and give you a clean cut for a good-looking lawn. Change the oil, clean the air filter and remove debris from the air passages around the engine. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for this cost-saving maintenance.
Sharpen the blade every four to five mowings. A sharp blade cuts leaves rather than shredding them. This helps in two ways. First, a cut leaf heals quickly, resulting in an appealing, green lawn. Shredding leaves results in a pale lawn that is prone to disease. Second, a sharp blade cuts faster and easier, saving both fuel and time.
For northern lawn types such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass, mow only to 2 1/2 inches. Mowing height varies for different grasses in Southern lawns: 1 1/2 inches for bermudagrass, 2 1/2 inches for St. Augustine grass, and 1 inch for centipede grass. For all grasses, only remove up to one-third of the height of your grass. Mulch your clippings and leave them on the lawn. This recycles nutrients back to the lawn and reduces the use of valuable landfill space. Both these actions are very eco-friendly.
Fertilizing
Returning clippings to the lawn does not replace all the nutrients used for growth. To keep your lawn green and healthy, supplement these clippings with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. “Universities recommend using slow-release nitrogen for lawns,” says Mike Archer of Milorganite. “Eco-friendly Milorganite 5-2-0 contains over 85 percent slow-release nitrogen.”
“Recommended nitrogen rates are also dropping,” he adds. “Using Milorganite, with its non-staining iron, will help give lawns the deep, green color homeowner’s desire, making up for using less nitrogen. Iron greens lawns without causing growth. This reduces mowing frequency and water use.”
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