Natural Lawn Care Tips
The average gasoline mower tested by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency emits in one hour of operation the same amount of hydrocarbons
(air pollutants) that a 1992 Ford Explorer emits over 23,600 miles.
Instead of creating noise and air pollution with a gas-powered lawn
mower, consider using one of these low-energy, high-quality
alternatives:
Rotary mower
Those old fashioned hand-powered mowers your grandparents used are making a comeback. Homeowners with smaller lawns find the maneuverability of rotary mowers particularly helpful. These mowers have low maintenance costs, and minimal environmental impact.
Electric mower
Electric mowers emit far fewer pollutants than gasoline-powered machines, are much quieter, and are often easier to push than their gas-guzzling counterparts.
Battery-powered mower
Some mowers and other garden equipment operate with battery packs that can be electrically recharged. Though these mowers offer many of the same benefits as electric mowers, they do contain batteries that generally last only about 5 years. Because the batteries contain heavy metals, they must be disposed of in a hazardous waste facility.
Whichever lawn mower you choose, consider these other tips for low-impact mowing:
- Practice grasscycling. Leave your grass clippings on the lawn after you mow to provide your lawn with a free and natural source of nutrients. If you don’t grasscycle, compost the clippings for use in your garden.
- Mow only as often as you need to keep your lawn in good shape. Do not cut your grass lower than 2.5 inches. Keeping your lawn as long as 3.5 inches is ideal for crowding out crab grass and other weeds.
- Use organic fertilizers and eliminate or minimize the amount of pesticides and herbicides you apply to your lawn.
- If you decide to go with a lawn care company, find one that uses natural management practices as opposed to heavy chemical treatments.
- Recycle your lawn mower. Many local utilities offer discounts on new, electric powered lawn care equipment to businesses and homeowners who trade in their gasoline-powered appliances. Contact your power company to find out if you can take advantage of such an offer in your community.
