As temperatures rise in the Midwest, lawn care season emerges.
Over 50 million households mow (or have a lawn service mow) each week.
Research indicates this activity uses 800 million gallons of gas and produces around 5% of the nation’s air pollution.
In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a new gas-powered lawn mower emits more air pollution in an hour than eleven new cars being driving for that same hour!
In addition to the lawn mower, lawn “accessories” like edgers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and weed whackers are also significant polluters. In fact, some are worse than the lawn mower.
One solution is to move to electric-powered equipment.
Many popular manufacturers have already moved to offer electric models. Consider the available options for the size of your lawn, length of charge, and time to recharge. You want to ensure your choice can do the job without unexpected recharging in the middle!
In addition to the switch to electric equipment, below are mowing tips that are more eco-friendly and keep your grass healthy:
- Mow Less Frequently: Try moving from once a week to every 1.5 – 2 weeks.
- Raise the mower: Keep your grass 2-3 inches tall to retain moisture and require less water.
- Keep the Clippings: Let your grass clippings decompose on your lawn as a natural fertilizer.
- Mow in the Evening: The chemicals will lack the sunlight needed to form ozone more easily.
- Avoid the Accessories: Try to avoid or minimize the use of edgers, leaf blowers, etc.
My Perspective
The tips here are not only better for our lawns but may also take some of the time and burden of lawn care off our plates with less/less frequent maintenance.
A great time to test the reduced frequency of mowing is in the month of May during “No Mow May”.
There are many mixed reviews online of the pros and cons of not mowing our lawns for a month.
The pros say it helps the bees and other pollinators along with less pollution.
Cons include weeds overtaking the grass, difficult to mow at the end, and increased tick risks.
If you are considering this, check your community rules. Some cities and townships prohibit participation.
Your Turn
Do you participate in No Mow May?
Have you made any of these changes in your lawncare routines?
Which ideas do you want to give a try this summer?