5 Ways to a green Lawn, and I do mean green.

5 Ways to a greener lawn, and I do mean green.

Okay, so I may not always smile. In fact, sometimes I think my kids actually fear that I might be distantly related to The Wicked Witch of the West…or East…or any ol’ direction for that matter. And it really might be true except that I have not ridden a bicycle with a basket in several years. Or ever. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, just sayin.

Most of the time, I have to say that I am an optimist with manners and a polite disposition. It takes a lot for a total stranger to urk me and turn me into a loco greenie. Greenie is a fine persona – loco greenie, not so much. This might have been a little bit (and by a little bit, I actually mean a lot) of what happened today.

Those chemical lawn people are relentless and it was not my fault really. They continue to come to my front door with their disapproval of my lawn. Now granted, we do have clover. Not a ton, but noticeable and VERY noticeable (evidently) to many non-greenies.

We do not spray our lawn. We do not necessarily love the clover mostly because of the bees that linger in it. But to the naked eye, it’s just not something that sends us over the edge. Our son has eczema and allergies and his skin is incredibly sensitive to chemicals so we just don’t go there. Besides, we live inside of a home that is ever-increasingly green and natural to the best of our ability. So why then, should our outside be any different?

There are numerous health effects associated with one particular chemical known as 2, 4-D, which is a commonly used herbicide used for spraying weeds on golf courses, and residentially in landscape maintenance. “2,4-D has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental effects, as well as water contamination and toxicity to aquatic organisms. As the most commonly used “home and garden” chemical, millions of U.S. households especially vulnerable children and pets, are exposed to this toxic chemical. This means that children playing on lawns and fields continue to be exposed to a chemical that has known and uncertain toxicological effects from which they are not adequately protected” (beyondpesticides.org).

Scary, right? I know.

So what do we do? Well I for one see nothing wrong with some clover and our kids wear their sandals when they are playing to escape any bee stings. Organic lawns just require a different perspective, It involves giving our lawn the things it needs in order to grow to it’s best potential (kind of like our family) and when given what it needs, the junk just might not thrive. Clover has several advantages including, staying green all summer without watering, it never needs fertilized, it out-competes other weeds and it grows well in poor soil to name a few!

For a healthy lawn that keeps you healthy too – here are some tips!

1. Leave your grass clippings on the lawn, they are full of nutrients

2. For a natural fertilizer, apply grass clippings and compost regularly through the growing season

3. Aerate you turf! Renting an aerator can help control thatch and involves removing small soil plugs in your lawn to prevent soil compaction. “Compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air. Roots require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Compaction reduces total pore space and the amount of air within the soil. It has a negative impact on nutrient uptake and water infiltration, in addition to being a physical barrier to root growth. This results in poor top growth and lawn deterioration” (mastergardenproducts).

4. Throw down some seeds! By sprinkling some grass seed over your lawn, you can encourage new growth while “choking out” the weeds (another advantage of clover!)

5. Where your shoes to avoid the bees and then “build a bridge and get over it” -when chemical guy comes knocking….be on with your merry green way!

I am not sure I made a friend this afternoon when our chemical guy came around (Sorry chemical guy if I seemed annoyed) but sometimes it can be a challenge to give off explanations of why and how I am green when on the spot. So even if I seemed like I should be on a bike with a basket (a’hem), it’s all in the name of green. I can deal with the occasional (or frequent if you are really counting) knocks at my door and next time, I am going to be smiling and proud!

Be Green, Be Proud. Love your weeds!

Originally appeared at: http://www.modernhippiemag.com/ - where I am am psyched to be Modern Hippie Writer twice a month baybeee!!

Image Credits:

http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/perfect-green-lawn.jpg

http://houseput.com/img/Gardening/white-clover-seed-12-lb.jpg

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