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'Raise the blade' for environmentally healthy, green grass
BY NANCY COOEY Splash! Magazine
People are often nonplussed over why their grass is slightly brown umber instead of a vivid green hue, so they add more fertilizer and water more; however, they just need to stand back and let the grass grow. This problem often occurs when the lawn is cut too often or too short. Such factors as the time of year, how much the grass is watered and how often it is (organically) fertilized determine how often grass should be cut. It is also important to not over chop the turf. Your grass should be around 3 to 31/2 inches high; and when you mow the grass you shouldn't remove any more than one third of the grass blade.
This is not only imperative for the health of the grass but also for the health of the environment. When grass is cut too short and it becomes weak, it doesn't hold the soil together as well as it should, thus when it is irrigated or it rains the valuable top soil is washed away, reducing the nutrients in the soil.
One of the biggest problems with living in suburbia is runoff of pesticides and fertilizers. These harmful chemicals not only invade the bodies of water that surround our community, but also the ground water. Thus we must be cautious about what we put on our lawns. However, most people only consider their desire to see a bright green front yard and think that the only way to achieve this is by using chemical fertilizers. But, green isn't the signature color for environmentalism for nothing-it is possible to grow a healthy, lush lawn while also respecting the environment.
First, consider using organic nitrogen fertilizers such as Concern or Espoma, cottonseed meal, or dried poultry waste. These products are mostly waterinsoluble, so they won't leach out of the lawn and will provide nitrogen in small doses over a month or more. If you need to give your soil a boost sprinkle about a quarter-inch deep (or less) of finely screened compost to the lawn. This gives new life to the soil by e n c o u r a g i n g microorganisms to thrive, thus improving the nutrients received by the turf. It also improves drainage and adds more oxygen to the soil.
If you need to reduce weeds, corn gluten meal has been known to prevent crab grass and other weeds from growing. About 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet should be applied in the early part of the season before the soil temperature drops to 55 degrees and in late summer.
So this summer lay in your lawn and don't fret about cutting the grass so much and enjoy the fact that your lawn isn't plagued with harmful fertilizers or pesticides, instead just chill out and remember the grass is always greener on the environmental side.
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