We all live our lives day to day thinking that nothing bad will happen. We never think that we will be the ones dealing with the cleanup of a house fire. Unfortunately, there are many, many families that suffer the impact of house fires each year. Last year, a close friend of mine was a victim of a house fire and since then, my life has been different. I have spent many hours researching fire prevention, causes, and teaching children about fire prevention and what to do in the case of a fire. It is my hope that my research can help those of you concerned about house fires make the necessary changes in your home and teach your kids what they need to know about fire.
If you live in a deed-restricted community with regular lawn care service, you may have no choice as to how to care for your lawn; however, if you do have control over your lawn, there are several steps you can take to green up your lawn care practices.
Reduce the Amount of Grass
Nobody enjoys cutting grass, so the more space you take up with plantings and hardscaping, the less grass you have to care for. That means less chemicals, less water and less mowing and weed-eating.
Plant Drought-Resistant Lawn Grass
Some grasses like St. Augustine and bluegrass, although beautiful and lush, are water hogs. Not all lawn grasses will grow in all environments, so check with your local extension service as to which grass is right for your area. Some water-wise grasses include:
Enrich Your Soil
Most grasses thrive best in loamy soils full of organic matter. Loamy soils hold moisture better and encourage healthy roots, so the grass needs less water. Healthy grass grows thick enough to choke out most weeds. A yearly soil test is essential to knowing exactly what your soil needs before adding anything to it. Most grasses grow best at a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0.
Water Deeply and Less Often
Shallow watering encourages surface roots that dry out quickly, while deep watering helps develop deep roots that are more drought-resistant. Water only in the early morning so grass will dry quickly and less water evaporates away. An inch of water per week is enough to keep most lawns healthy. Watering needs for different grasses are:
Consider a Reel Lawn Mower
Today's reel lawnmowers are nothing like the ones your grandfather used. They cut grass much more efficiently and effectively without polluting the air or waking up your neighbors on Sunday morning. Since they shear the grass instead of tearing it, they leave a prettier surface without the brown tips. Modern lightweight reel mowers are easier to push and low maintenance.
Following these tips, along with using only natural fertilizers and chemicals on your lawn, will enable your lawn to thrive with less harm to the environment. Nevertheless, even healthy lawns sometimes have problems, and it's best to act quickly before there is permanent damage. Contact a trusted lawn maintenance professional, like Headman Lawn Care and Christmas Lighting, when pests or diseases attack your lawn.
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