Midsummer is the ideal season to focus on how to make your lawn care more environmentally sustainable, while simultaneously improving your lawn's appearance and health.
Lawns use lots of water, as well as fertilizers and pesticides. Lawns are less effective at absorbing storm-water runoff than forests and meadows. The lawn is a barren wasteland for wildlife, especially insect pollinators. And mowing creates lots of air and noise pollution.
So what can we do?
Less care can be best
With the heat of summer, you may notice lawns turning brown. But take a closer look. Lawns mowed less frequently are usually greener. In general, most people cut their grass too low and too often. Let's say you cut your grass weekly in May. Is that still necessary in July? Absolutely not.
The key is to be flexible in your approach to mowing. Only mow when you need to, not because it's on your calendar. Also, most experts recommend mowing at a height of no less than three inches. The benefit is longer blades of grass that shade the roots, conserving water. It also means deeper roots that are able to reach lower soil moisture.
Talk to your lawn service
The majority of homes in our township employ lawn services that mow every single week, regardless of whether a lawn would benefit or not.
Always feel empowered to tell your landscaper to skip mowing when the grass isn't growing. Even if you still have to pay for the service, your lawn will be healthier and look better, so you still come out ahead.
Mulch clippings when possible
You can reduce usage of fertilizer and water by mulching grass clippings. Clippings provides essential nutrients that your lawn needs to stay healthy. As they break down, the clippings will release nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, improving the soil. It even creates a habitable ecosystem for useful microorganisms that fight off lawn disease and mold.
Mulching is especially helpful for lawns during the warmer, drier summer months. In the heat of the season, soil can dry quickly, but mulching helps the soil retain water. The layer of mulch on the soil bed acts as a sun shield, which helps reduce moisture evaporation and keeps the soil temperature cooler.
Just be careful to avoid building up a layer dead grass that smothers the lawn called "thatch." It happens when clippings accumulate faster than they can decay. The key is not overwatering or overfertilizing your lawn.
