Firstly, let’s clear up one fact- mowing the lawn is not all that environmentally friendly. In fact there is growing encouragement for gardeners to leave the lawn grow or to turn to wild flower meadows. Growing the lawn helps the vital pollinators like bees to create a healthy ecosystem. For some gardens leaving all of the lawn to grow is not always a practical option. If you’re able to take part in the RSPB ‘Let it Grow Wild Challenge’ campaign – that’s wonderful and will help nature and wildlife to recover. However, if you still need to mow a percentage of your lawn, in this post we’ll look at a few easy ways you can do this whilst still being kind to the environment.
A lot of lawn care advice is not environmentally friendly. It involves using harsh chemicals on your lawn that are harmful to the surrounding wildlife. So, how do you look after your lawn while being as eco-friendly as possible? Here are a few tips that’ll make everything much easier:
Don’t cut on the lowest setting
You will need to mow your lawn regularly – preferably with an electric mower, as they are more sustainable than gas-powered models – but there’s one important thing to keep in mind. Cutting your grass on the lowest setting is actually awful for it. It scalps the lawn, leaving lots of muddy patches and destroying the soil. As a result, the only way to rectify the situation is by spraying down chemicals to encourage more grass to grow in the area. By not using the lowest setting, you can avoid all of this and have a better lawn that doesn’t require chemical treatments.
Keep your blades sharp
The longer it takes you to mow the lawn, the worse it will be for the environment. This is because you will use up way more fuel than is necessary. If your mower is plugged in, you waste electricity. If it’s gas-powered, you literally burn through loads of fuel. One way to speed up your mowing time is by keeping the blades as sharp as can be. You’ll notice your blades are getting dull when it starts taking ages to cut the grass or the lawn is uneven. When this happens, you can go online to find the parts to fix your lawn mower yourself, replacing the blades. There’s bound to be a tutorial or two online to use.
Use organic fertiliser
Your lawn needs to be fertilised occasionally if you want the grass to grow and be green and strong. Naturally, you can find all sorts of fertilisers out there to try. Most people will opt for synthetic fertilisers, which are chemically formulated to improve your lawn. Do they work? Yes, but at what cost? The chemicals can help your lawn grow, but what does it do to the bugs and small animals in the area? You also have to consider the environmental impact of how these products are made. Instead, switching to organic fertiliser is so much better. Your lawn will still be fertilised, but you’re using natural products that don’t have side effects on the wider ecosystem.
In all honesty, leaving your lawn to grow is the most environmentally friendly option. Although, if you need to cut it, these are the only three tips you need to provide environmentally-friendly lawn maintenance. Steer clear of chemicals by keeping your soil in the best condition possible, use organic products whenever you can, and keep your mower in good nick so it’s energy efficient. All of this will help you cultivate a stunning lawn without harming the environment.
Photography by Annie Spratt
