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Being healthy does not always mean having the greenest yard on the block! Cutting the grass too short, overwatering, and using too much fertilizer and too many pesticides are the most common mistakes in yard care. A manicured, weed-free, emerald green lawn is not always environmentally sound.
LAWN AND LANDSCAPE
An unlandscaped property is more vulnerable to heavy storms than landscaped ground. The undesirable end results are larger volumes of runoff, increased soil and channel erosion, and lost sediments washing down a storm drain or settling in an area waterbody.
- Avoid cutting the grass too short. Mowing your lawn too low can stress the grass, encourage weeds, invite pests, and ruin a lawn. Increased blade height allows the plant to develop a deeper root system. Adjust frequency of mowing to the time of year, the amount of rainfall, and how high the grass has grown. The general recommendation is to mow so that no more than 1/3 of the blade height is removed with each mowing. If you mow a lawn to a height of 3 inches, it should be cut again after it reaches a height of 4 inches.
- Leave grass cuttings on the lawn. Grass cuttings quickly decompose and are a good source of fertilizer returning nutrients to the soil including organic nitrogen. Clippings left on chemically treated lawns may take longer to decompose.
- Alternate the pattern of cutting the grass with each mowing to prevent wear patterns, scalping, and grain (the grass laying over in the same direction). Dense, healthy grass should eliminate most weeds and the need for herbicides.
- Follow the lawn mower manufacturer's recommendations for service and adjustments. Dull blades do not cut properly and stress and weaken the grass, making it susceptible to pests.
- Landscape around your home and throughout the yard. Strategically planted vegetation will promote water infiltration into the soil. Plants soften the impact of rain and their roots take up water. Leaf debris, mulch, grass clippings, and other decaying organic mater recycle nutrients, build up the organic content of the soil, and improve the capacity of the soil to retain moisture.
- Preserve existing native vegetation. An established natural plant community is self-maintaining, efficient, functional and provides benefits including shade, moderation of temperature extremes, storm and erosion protection, and visual screening. Existing native vegetation can be easily complemented with additional vegetation.
- Consider native plants when designing a landscape. Native species withstand common diseases, the local weather conditions, and eliminate the need for extensive watering and the use of chemicals.
- Remove invasive exotic plants. These nuisance plants overtake habitat, and prevent the natural recovery of disturbed land and ecosystems.
- Recycle unused horticultural waste (grass clippings, leaves, and tree and shrub trimmings) on designated yearly waste collection days.
- If a professional lawn care service is used as an alternative to home maintenance, find a reputable company that will customize its service to meet your lawn and landscape needs. The service should use fertilizers and pesticides only as needed, and not on a mass-production basis with a fixed number of treatments to deal with problems that might occur.
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