Eco Lawn

My Grass Is Greener over Here

Greening Your Lawn Care

by Scott Ankeny

   A beautiful yard has become a status symbol. Maintenance is a chore, a hobby, or a Zen practice, depending on your perspective. However you view it, consider practicing eco friendly lawn care and find ways to achieve carbon savings.
   The EPA states that using a new gas powered lawnmower for one hour (two gallons of gas) is equivalent to driving 50 miles in a car that gets 20 miles to the gallon. This use results in 50 pounds of carbon. Put that together with the U.S. Census Bureau stating the average household runs their lawnmowers about 52 hours a year, and running your lawn mower for one hour a week totals 2600 pounds of carbon per year for one household.
   You could cut your lawn’s carbon footprint in half by mowing every other week. Leaving the grass longer is far healthier for the lawn and saves you hard cash. Or, you could cut your mowing time by planting more ornamental bushes, plants, and flowers, but be sure your choices are ideal for local climate to ensure hardiness.
   Another concern is water use. The Union of Concerned Scientists has put some thought and research to find out that:

90% of all lawns are over-watered.
35% of all household water is used for yards.
14% of common water pollution is due to yard care, and much of that is due to chemicals and fertilizers.

You can replace petroleum-based fertilizers and lawn care chemicals with natural alternatives. There are dozens of great websites that sell good products and give out great tips on how to “green” your lawn care. Good search terms are companion planting, natural pest care, and ideal watering amounts.

Scott Ankeny is founder of Going Green Today, a website dedicated to helping people reduce their carbon footprints while saving money with simple easy to follow steps.