Paulwheaton (talk | contribs) |
(go organic; add links - organiclawncaretips.com & wl) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Various factors affect [[sustainability]] in [[lawn care]]: | Various factors affect [[sustainability]] in [[lawn care]]: | ||
* Height of the grass: Don't cut too short! Let it grow a little longer to reduce evaporation. it also reduces how often you need to mow. | * Height of the grass: Don't cut too short! Let it grow a little longer to reduce evaporation. it also reduces how often you need to mow. (Remember, what "[[lazy gardening]]" is actually efficient gardening.) | ||
* Choice of [[mower]] affects [[energy use]] as well as pollution ([[water pollution]], [[air pollution]] and [[noise pollution]]). The best choice for all of these concerns is a [[reel mower]], pushed by human effort. | * Choice of [[mower]] affects [[energy use]] as well as pollution ([[water pollution]], [[air pollution]] and [[noise pollution]]). The best choice for all of these concerns is a [[reel mower]], pushed by human effort. | ||
* Let the clippings remain on the grass - they will settle down to the soil surface and add [[organic matter]] to the soil. Alternatively you can [[compost]] it, but never [[municipal waste|discard]] it. | * Let the clippings remain on the grass - they will settle down to the soil surface and add [[organic matter]] to the soil. Alternatively you can [[compost]] it, but never [[municipal waste|discard]] it. | ||
* Be [[organic]] - with a little forethought, organic care is easy and effective, and you avoid the risks to [[health]] and [[ecology]] from chemical fertilizers and pesticides. | |||
* Consider alternative water sources: | * Consider alternative water sources: | ||
** [[Greywater]] reuse (with appropriate [[greywater treatment]], depending on the source and pollutants). Consider directing it into a channel filled with gravel, so it absorbs into the soil, and not directed onto the surface, to avoid people coming in contact with it. | ** [[Greywater]] reuse (with appropriate [[greywater treatment]], depending on the source and pollutants). Consider directing it into a channel filled with gravel, so it absorbs into the soil, and not directed onto the surface, to avoid people coming in contact with it. | ||
| Line 8: | Line 9: | ||
* If you want grass (feeling it beneath your toes, sitting or playing on it) then make use of a shared lawn (i.e. [[public park]], or lawn within a [[community]] e.g. [[cohousing]]). Open and [[usable public space]] will get more use for a smaller amount of lawn, and yards can grow something useful and edible instead. | * If you want grass (feeling it beneath your toes, sitting or playing on it) then make use of a shared lawn (i.e. [[public park]], or lawn within a [[community]] e.g. [[cohousing]]). Open and [[usable public space]] will get more use for a smaller amount of lawn, and yards can grow something useful and edible instead. | ||
== See also == | |||
* [[Lazy gardening]] | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/pubs/home-gs.pdf Greenscaping Your Lawn and Garden] - from the US EPA. | * [http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/pubs/home-gs.pdf Greenscaping Your Lawn and Garden] - from the US EPA. | ||
* [http://www.faircompanies.com/main.aspx?uc=notampl&id=400&sec=1 Lawns: time to ungarden] on faircompanies.com. | * [http://www.faircompanies.com/main.aspx?uc=notampl&id=400&sec=1 Lawns: time to ungarden] on faircompanies.com. | ||
* [http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp organic lawn care for the cheap and lazy] article by paul wheaton | * [http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp organic lawn care for the cheap and lazy] article by paul wheaton | ||
* [http://www.organiclawncaretips.com/ organic lawn care tips] | |||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
[[Category: Gardening]] | [[Category: Gardening]] | ||
Revision as of 09:58, 26 September 2010
Various factors affect sustainability in lawn care:
- Height of the grass: Don't cut too short! Let it grow a little longer to reduce evaporation. it also reduces how often you need to mow. (Remember, what "lazy gardening" is actually efficient gardening.)
- Choice of mower affects energy use as well as pollution (water pollution, air pollution and noise pollution). The best choice for all of these concerns is a reel mower, pushed by human effort.
- Let the clippings remain on the grass - they will settle down to the soil surface and add organic matter to the soil. Alternatively you can compost it, but never discard it.
- Be organic - with a little forethought, organic care is easy and effective, and you avoid the risks to health and ecology from chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Consider alternative water sources:
- Greywater reuse (with appropriate greywater treatment, depending on the source and pollutants). Consider directing it into a channel filled with gravel, so it absorbs into the soil, and not directed onto the surface, to avoid people coming in contact with it.
- Rainwater - either storing in a tank, or groundwater recharge through proper soil management (to increase absorption) and contouring (as in swales to allow rainwater to sit and absorb into the soil).
- If you want grass (feeling it beneath your toes, sitting or playing on it) then make use of a shared lawn (i.e. public park, or lawn within a community e.g. cohousing). Open and usable public space will get more use for a smaller amount of lawn, and yards can grow something useful and edible instead.
See also
External links
- Greenscaping Your Lawn and Garden - from the US EPA.
- Lawns: time to ungarden on faircompanies.com.
- organic lawn care for the cheap and lazy article by paul wheaton
- organic lawn care tips