(go organic; add links - organiclawncaretips.com & wl)
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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.
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* 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]


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[[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

Template:Stub

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