Here are some some simple premises to follow in caring for your lawn.
Smaller Than the Average Lawn
First, a water-wise lawn is smaller than the average lawn in the neighborhood. No, the yards are not smaller. The lawns are smaller.
In other words, they have about an equal amount of that green stuff (called turf), and water-conscious gardens, thus reducing the “green” space.
The reason for this is that turf (lawn grass) uses extraordinary amounts of water (an estimated 20 percent plus of the water used by homeowners in municipalities is used to water lawns). It’s a simple formula: the less grass, the less water needed.
No Crew Cuts
Don’t "crew cut" grass. Set the height of the mower to the highest level. After cutting, grass blades should be still about three inches long.
Of course, this may be usually about two inches longer than neighbors’ lawns, who, when cutting along the property line, may shake their heads at the disparity. Longer grass won’t look unkempt, but it won’t look like it just went through boot camp either. After all, beauty is in the eyes…
Grass is, of course, a plant, and as such, it produces chlorophyll (food) through its leaves (the blades). Cutting it too short will deprive the plant of much needed food. As a result, the grass will have less food to expand its root structure. It will require more and more fertilizers to add nutrients. In addition, because it’s got a less vigorous root system, it is more susceptible to fungal and insect damage.
Don’t Collect Clippings
Don’t collect grass clippings. However, do use a mulching lawn mower, but don’t use the bag. Instead, mulch the clippings back down into the lawn.
Blades of grass are high in nitrogen, which all plants require in order to grow, stay green and produce chlorophyll.
Putting those cuttings back down onto the ground, provides nitrogen to the plants.
Gardeners do like to put all that high nitrogen grass into their compost bins as well, but guess what? Neighbors who collect their clippings in bags, can and do provide gardeners with all the green material they need for their compost bins.
Don’t Overwater, and Don’t Water Regularly
Watering with sprinklers which put too much water down onto the lawn too quickly will simply result in runoff. The water is lost into the storm drains, or somewhere else. Slow, deep watering will get down into the roots. This will help create strong root systems. Also, watering irregularly will further encourage grass roots to dig down deeper seeking surface water. Water once, then water in three or four days, then in six days, then back to four, alternating. Spread out the time between watering until you see stress on the turf, then decrease the intervals a little.
A brave gardener will want to try these simple techniques. Their neighbors probably won’t egg their home. Area teens will probably not tip trees in their yards. Granted, neighbors may look at them a little differently. But, hey, an experienced gardener can take a little rejection, right?
In fact, a wise gardener might just bring the neighbors some tomatoes next time they have a bumper crop.
