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Greenscape Your Lawn

It's spring again, and that naturally means Northern Virginians are spending more time in their yards. By taking care of our lawns and gardens properly, we can save money, time, and help the environment. Here are some "GreenScaping" practices to improve the health and appearance of your lawn and garden while protecting and preserving natural resources.

• Mow higher, mow regularly and leave the clippings. Mow more frequently when grass is actively growing so that you are only cutting no more than one-third of the height of the grass. This practice minimizes the amount of grass clippings. The desired height of grass varies depending on climate. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for local recommendations. "Grasscycling," or leaving the clippings on the lawn, doesn't cause thatch build up-but it does make lawns healthier. Soil organisms recycle the clippings into free fertilizer, and you save all the work of bagging. Modern mulching lawn mowers make "grasscycling" even easier and homeowners can reduce their mowing time by 30 to 40 percent by not having to bag clippings.
• Use "natural organic" or "slow-release" fertilizers. Choose "natural organic" or "slow-release" fertilizers to reduce nutrient run-off and leaching. Keep fertilizers on the soil and out of the street! Fertilizers that run off are a waste of money and contribute to pollution of streams and lakes. Use fertilizers sparingly. The more you fertilize, the faster the grass grows and the more frequently you have to mow!
• Water deeply, but infrequently, to moisten the whole root zone. Overseeding can improve the quality of your lawn. Core aerate in the fall to improve root development and water penetration. Follow by overseeding thin areas of lawn with grass seed blends recommended for your area. Then "top-dress" by raking in quarter- to half-inch of compost to cover the seed and improve the soil. Repeat these steps annually as needed to improve poor lawns.