Homeowners
often use as much as 5 to 10 pounds of toxic, synthetic poisons
per acre on their lawns every year to control pests and weeds. These
poisons can make us, our kids, and our pets ill. They can then move
on to kill our wildlife and poison our water supplies. The
good news is you don't need to use poison to have a lush, green
lawn. Just make a few simple adjustments to your lawn-care regime
and you'll have a beautiful, healthy lawn that won't need toxic
poisons. You'll probably even find that the changes save you time,
effort, and money!
MOWING:
Proper mowing is the basis of successful organic lawn care. Here
are five points to remember:
- Keep
your grass at the recommended height.
- Keep
your mower blade sharp.
- Mow
only when your grass is dry.
- Never
remove more than one-third of the height at one mowing.
- Leave
the clippings on the lawn.
Proper
mowing encourages grass to grow deep, drought-resistant roots and
conserves water by reducing evaporation from the soil. Letting the
grass grow to the proper summer height reduces weed seed germination,
chokes out crabgrass, and gives beneficial pest-hunting insects
a place to live.
If
the lawn grows so high that you need to cut more than one-third
its total height, raise your mower's blade and cut one-third. Two
days later, drop the blade to the proper height and re-cut.
Leaving
the clippings on the lawn helps provide the nutrients the grass
needs to grow and adds water holding organic matter to the soil.
And research has proved it will not contribute to thatch. Thatch
is caused by compacted soil, shallow watering, synthetic fertilizer,
and poisons-like weed killers and pesticides-that kill earth worms.
Besides, thatch is made of grass stems, shoots, and roots not clippings.
Mowers-
The size of your lawn and your energy level will tell you which
type of mower to choose. Here are your basic choices:
Manual
reel mower-
These old-fashioned machines are making a comeback. The reel cuts
the grass like a pair of scissors for the neatest possible cut.
They are quiet and fume free. If you have a small lawn and like
exercise, a modern lightweight reel mower may be a good choice.
You can get a snap-on grass-catcher to use when the grass is long.
Power
rotary mower-
This is the basic all American lawn mower. Options include self
propulsion or even ride-on operation. Most feature a grass-catcher
bag to keep the clippings off the lawn when the grass is long. Until
recently a gasoline or electric power rotary mower was your only
choice. If you already have one, it will suit your purposes. If
you are looking for a new mower, check out a mulching mower instead.
Power
mulching mower-
Mulching mowers are rotary mowers designed to cut and then chop
up the clippings. Chopped clippings are less visible when they fall
back into the lawn. Mulching mowers are far more forgiving of a
missed or late mowing than a standard mower is. Some even have an
optional bagger for collecting clippings during a wet spell or gathering
shredded leaves in the fall. A mulching mower is your best bet for
successful organic lawn care.
FOR
BEST RESULTS:
Follow these simple tips to keep your mower working like new and
pampering your lawn.
- Sharpen
the blade regularly for a good, clean cut and less wear and tear
on the machine.
- Clean
the clippings from the blade and underside after each mowing.
- Empty
and dry the clipping bag (if used) after each mowing.
- Fill
the gasoline tank and check the oil level before each mowing.
Do this on the driveway to prevent petroleum burns on your lawn.
-
Drain and change the engine oil once a year.
