There’s nothing more inviting than a lush carpet of deep green grass, dappled with sunshine. But the reality of most lawns is far from green. Preserving the uniformity, the monoculture of a chosen variety of grass, is often achieved through chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Without a doubt these products quickly result in that beautiful green carpet, but in the long term, routine application of lawn chemicals damages the soil and its inhabitants, and pollutes local streams and water supplies. There are alternatives, however, which promise a much greener path to green.
Make Your Grass Work for You
First, understand the way grass grows. Grass roots are generally as long as the grass itself. If you mow your lawn a little higher (set your mower at 3-4 inches), you encourage the roots to grow deeper. This makes your lawn more drought resistant, so it requires less watering. Grass should be watered infrequently, but deeply to further encourage deep roots.
Since most lawn weeds have very shallow roots, they succumb to dry conditions much more quickly than the surrounding, deep-rooted grass. Tall, dense, healthy grass is its own weed deterrent. The grass crowds out the weeds and shades the ground to prevent germination. All that weed killer becomes unnecessary. And if you do find yourself with out-of-control weeds, products like corn gluten meal can be used for pre-emergent weeds. It has the added benefit of being a slow-release fertilizer as well.
Embrace Insects
Second, embrace the creepy crawlers that inhabit the grass. While some insects, like grubs, can damage lawns, many others actually help lawns and other garden plants by eating or crowding out the harmful ones. Since pesticides are indiscriminate killers, using them means wiping out both the good and the bad bugs. And many of the beneficial insects help keep lawns healthy by helping break down organic matter in the soil and by controlling the number of harmful insects.
Fertilize naturally
Finally, consider non-chemical fertilizers. Compost, compost tea (made by soaking compost in water for several hours), and fish emulsion are excellent soil additives. They can improve both the substance and the fertility of the soil. In contrast, conventional fertilizers have a high nitrogen content for quick greening, but the effect is short-lived and any excess nitrogen runs off into local waterways.
An expanse of inviting lawn adds curb appeal and invites people of all ages to enjoy the outdoor space, whether they are playing or relaxing. And few features of the landscape evoke fonder associations. Understanding and working with the natural way your lawn grows and avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides can go a long way towards “greening” you lawn.
Libby Escobedo - Libby Escobedo is a freelance writer and college professor and is a recent transplant to the Midwest. She teaches and writes on a range ...
