Is Your Lawn Helping or Hurting the Environment?

Is your lawn harming the environment? It could be, if it is not being maintained in a sustainable manner. Each year, we see articles and chatter about lawns using too much water, polluting our waterways due to water runoff; and that they require maintenance that causes pollution from leaf blowers and lawnmowers. When over-watered or fertilized with synthetic chemicals, your lawns can be the source of environmental problems. However, you might be surprised to learn that a healthy, organic and properly-managed lawn can actually help to relieve some environmental stresses – especially in urban environments.

#1: Bioactive Soil is the Foundation of a Healthy Lawn

Healthy soil is the backbone to every healthy lawn, and it is also the foundation for proper watering and fertilization. Soil that is maintained organically full of beneficial microbes, naturally encourages a healthy lawn root system. When the lawn is more naturally vigorous, it’s able to use water more efficiently and better take up nutrients provided via the organic matter in the soil..

Healthy, bioactive soil also drains better. That means the soil will be able to both absorb and naturally drain away rainfall, which cuts down on runoff and flooding.

Organics don’t always work as fast as we like. So, are they worth the wait? Find out here.

#2: How Can Your Lawn Help the Environment?

A green lawn surrounding your home serves many different purposes. While a lawn is the perfect place for kids, pets and yourself to relax and play. And of course, a good looking lawn can make your property look great and improve curb appeal. But, did you know that your lawn, if it’s organically maintained, also aids in improving air and water quality?

More green lawn benefits:

• Lawns act as a natural air conditioner for our homes. Temperatures cool the air at ground level, reducing temperatures around your home be a few degrees. This helps cut down on your energy consumption and costs.
• Grass absorbs noise. Live by a noisy street? Imagine if no grass was there!
• Lawns are a green air-cleaners! They absorb dust, smoke particles, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants from the air.
• A 50- x50-foot span of lawn around your home creates enough oxygen for a family of four.
• Lawns reduce soil erosion and water runoff by planting a lawn. With reduced water runoff, and an organic landscape plan, you’ll be reducing the amount of contaminants reaching our water supply, lakes, rivers, streams and the ocean.

Heal your lawn, heal your environment.

When you follow an organic maintenance plan that doesn’t rely on synthetics to sustain your lawn, you are actively working to benefit your environment. Mulching leaves and grass clippings into the lawn as you mow, adding compost, worm castings and humic acid a few times a year, and understanding how to water your lawn and ensure your irrigation works properly are all great steps in helping our environment.

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