Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips for New Orleans, LA Homeowners
Lawns may be a European invention, but they’ve become an American obsession. In the US, around 35 million acres of land are taken by lawn grass, which means the satisfying look of a clean lawn is right up there with apple pie and baseball. However, people don’t realize that most lawns in America can wreak havoc on the environment… and your wallet. Most of your money goes into “helping” your grass only in superficial ways that degrade the soil, pollute groundwater, and can harm humans and pets. You can reduce these risks by following our four simple tips:
1. Going Organic
Photo: Flickr / jetsandzeppelins
You might have switched from one pesticide to the next to find the one that kills the most gnats and grubs. However, you might want to consider the potential harm of chemicals in pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. According to the Environmental Protection Association (EPA), pesticides can kill around 65 million birds each year in the US alone. Likewise, non-organic pesticides are often dangerous to pets and children if consumed. So, be sure to buy organic supplements to keep your lawn and planet happy.
2. Saving Water
Photo: Flickr / Diego V
In the US, the EPA states that 45% of annual water use is contributed to lawn care, which means that nearly half of our national water supply is devoted to watering lawns. So, you can reduce your water use by getting a sprinkler, which, according to The LSU Agricultural Center, irrigates waters and saves an average of 50 gallons of water per week.
3. Ditching Gas
Photo: Flickr / Arizona Shona
Mowers use an average of 580 million gallons of gas per year, which is nearly 1.3 billion dollars per year to mow our lawns (at an average gas rate of $2.22). Furthermore, gas mowers tend to be one of the most environmentally methods of mowing since they increase your carbon footprint in one hour as much as a car driven 20 miles. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a nice electric car, but electric-run lawn mowers and trimmers are actually now cheaper to manufacture and buy then traditional gas guzzlers. Not only that, they are also cheaper to maintain since electric motors last longer than combustion motors.
4. Collecting Clippings
Photo: Flickr / Yutaka Sekl
Finally, one of the easiest and cost efficient ways to use natural fertilizer is to implement a compost in your lawn as you would in your garden. By doing so, you could save an average of $50 per month in fertilizer costs.
Follow the steps above and you’ll be well on your way to practicing eco-friendly lawn care!
Have questions about lawn care? Visit our New Orleans lawn care page or share your thoughts in the comments section below.
