As published in the Lafayette Today newspaper.
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When we look out our windows to admire our lawns we have reason to be concerned. First of all, Americans use an estimated 800 million gallons of gas per year to mow our lawns, and spill more fuel while refueling lawn equipment each year than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez. And gas-powered lawnmowers account for up to 5% of US air pollution according to the EPA. Some models can emit as much pollution in an hour as an old car driving for 100 miles. The other big concern is water use. The average homeowner in California sprays 185 gallons of water per day on their lawn and garden. And if that’s not enough, a hefty portion of the 100 million pounds of household pesticides Americans purchase each year is poured on their yards and can end up in streams and groundwater. Because of these reasons, many homeowners around Lamorinda are choosing to shrink their lawns, but in the meantime, here are some tips for making your lawn and lawn care more “green”.
Don’t Cut So Short – Set your lawn mower blades one notch higher. Mow up to three inches high to give the grass the opportunity to shade out weedlings and help preserve soil moisture. Never cut off more than one-third of the lawn's height. Longer grass means less evaporation.
Recycle Grass Clippings (Grasscycling) - Recycle your grass clippings as mulch by leaving them on the lawn; if the grass clumps, just rake it around. A mulching lawn mower works best. Letting grass clippings decompose is a great natural fertilizer, helps a lawn retain moisture, and keeps you from having to bother bagging and filling up your green bin with grass that has to be trucked away and processed. Another bonus is that it increases the amount of carbon that your lawn stores. More about grasscycling: http://www.wastediversion.org/grasscycling.htm
Water Less Frequently But More Deeply – Reduce your water use, by watering deeply and early in the day (4-9am) and only when the grass needs it (not when it’s just rained or about to rain). Frequent shallow waterings encourage weed germination, and they also cause the grass plants' roots to grow shallow, leaving the plant more susceptible to drought and to certain diseases. Watering less frequently but more deeply encourages the roots to grow deeper, but only if you apply enough water each time to penetrate the root zone (6-8 inches). Most experts recommend one deep watering per week.
Use Organic Fertilizer - Apply an organic fertilizer in spring (before growth) and fall.
Remove Weeds Without Poison - Instead of spraying poison, remove weeds, roots and all, by hand. Check out gardening catalogs for some nifty weed-extracting devices.
Aerate - Aerate the soil, either by using an aeration tool or a garden fork or by walking around with those weird spiked shoes available from garden suppliers. This will help water reach the root area more easily and produce a healthier lawn.
Test Your Soil - Use a soil-testing kit or have the soil tested to make sure it's around 6.5 pH, which most grasses prefer, and amend if needed.
Remember: all of this will work better if you have the right species of grass for your region.
link to PDF of Lafayette Today that
included article on page 13