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Environmentally Safe Homes - Lawn Care

We all like to live in attractive homes. Not only does a good lawn create a pleasant place for family activities, but it makes a good impression and beautifies the entire neighborhood.

Of course, we pay a price for beautiful lawns where the environment is concerned. High water usage, pollution from lawn mowers and poisoning from pesticides and fertilizers can threaten the ecology of our environment and eventually lead to serious problems.

Chemical Fertilizers

You might not think of fertilizer as a pollutant but any artificial chemicals can cause problems in the environment. A much better choice is a natural or organic fertilizer such as processed manure.

Of course the ultimate, and least expensive, solution is to compost any organic waste from our homes. That way we cut back on the amount of waste we produce, and get some great fertilizer for free. Check out our section on composting in the Waste section.

Pesticides

A more obvious source of pollution is that poisonous pesticide you use to keep the beetles off your tomato plants. Not only can it cause problems in the environment but it can coat the vegetables we eat and directly harm us. Even if they do not directly harm us they will be carried by the wind, water and rain to harm fish and other wildlife. There are some great alternatives though.

A popular and natural alternative to chemical insecticides is to mix 3 large onions, 1 whole garlic, 2 tablespoons hot red peppers and 1 quart of water and liquefy. Soap may be added to improve the adherence to leaves.

For aphids, crickets, rose slugs and other pests, use insecticide soap or mild dishwashing soap. These natural alternatives will not harm the environment, but will harm the parasites.

Water Conservation

In our section on water we discussed the sources and conservation of this natural resource. When you understand that water may be taken out of underground reservoirs faster than it is replaced, it's easy to see why we would want to be conservative in our usage.

When watering our plants or lawns, we should remember that the sun will quickly dry them. Therefore, it's important to water our lawns and greenery only in the evening or at night. This way, the water will be able to absorb into the ground and plants without being evaporated by the hot sun.

It's also important to know and abide by any local laws regarding water usage and to pay particular attention to draught conditions.

Lawn Mowers and Other Powered Equipment

Our lawnmowers are usually gasoline powered and produce both air and noise pollution. Just like our automobiles, they release a number of poisonous gases during combustion.

Electric powered lawn care equipment is available that does not produce noise pollution, and may cut back considerably on air pollution by leaving the actual energy production to a hydroelectric dam or other generation plant.

Summary

It's not hard to make little changes in the way we care for our lawns. Some of them may even add to the enjoyment of our outdoor hobbies while making our home safer for the environment. Take the time to read the fine print on all the items you purchase for lawn care. Only use as much as you need and don't go overboard. These simple recommendations can reduce the cost of your lawn and help the environment.