Look, we get it. Sustainable lawn care is something you want to do but you’re just not sure where to start. The idea can be intimidating for some people, but it doesn’t have to be. There are several small ways you can incorporate sustainable practices into your San Jose lawn care. Here are some of our best sustainable lawn care tips to get you started!
What It Means to Be Sustainable
OK, let’s start with what sustainable lawn care is. Basically, it’s tending to your lawn in a way that can help to preserve natural resources, such as water, that will ultimately help the environment, your health and the future of the human race. No pressure, really. Sustainable lawn practices aim to cut out chemical usage and produce a lush, green lawn that healthy for everything in it – including you.
In the United States, about 40 million acres is devoted to turfgrass. That’s a lot of lawn to tend, and when you think about all that it takes to keep up that turfgrass you can begin to understand why sustainability is so important.
Your should strive for a sustainable lawn because:
- It makes a great play area for pets and kids.
- It helps take carbon dioxide out of the air.
- It helps cool the air and reduce the temperature.
- It removes pollutants, dust, and particulates from the air and water supply.
- It reduces noise pollution.
It is possible to have a lawn you can love that’s also sustainable – you just have to know where to start!
From the Ground Up
The first step toward a sustainable lawn is to begin with healthy soil. When your soil is healthy then it will help to create and support healthy grass, be more resistant to drought and disease, and deal with stress better. Yeah – your lawn is just like you, it can get stressed out!
Fostering a healthy soil can be accomplished by applying mulch and compost to your lawn. This feeds the natural organisms living in your soil. These organisms break down the mulch, compost, and plant clippings and turn it into to fuel to feed your lawn.
To spread compost or mulch you should go around your lawn, intermittently dropping small piles that you then will spread out with a rake. If you have a large lawn or you just don’t want to take the time to rake, all you have to do is use a spreader.
Water it Right
Lawns in residential areas use too much water, and using too much water is a big no-no if you want a sustainable lawn. The biggest way you can cut down on how much water your lawn needs is to choose the right type of grass. In San Jose you will want to choose from:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Perennial ryegrass
- Tall fescue
If you want to go for a mix, the Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass will be your best choice. When you choose a grass that thrives in the climate, it will need less water and therefore be more sustainable.
Keep the Cut High
When you mow your grass you should leave it at least three inches tall. When you keep it at this height it will naturally keep weeds from growing. So, set that mower blade to the highest level you can and make sure to keep the blades of your mower sharp. If you use a dull blade on your grass it will leave ragged edges, causing water to rapidly evaporate from the grass blades and making your lawn more susceptible to disease. You should aim to mow at least once a week to keep your lawn healthy and stress free.
It’s also a great idea to leave the lawn clipping on your lawn. By not bagging them up you are saving space in the landfill and you’re adding valuable organic material to your soil. It saves you time and money, and is a valuable practice for the environment too!
By incorporating these sustainable practices into your lawn care repertoire you are taking the first step toward being a responsible citizen of the world. Can you believe it? All that just from letting your grass grow a little higher!
