Natural and Sustainable

1. Pick the right kind of grass for your own area: Having grass that’s adapted to your own climate area will be a natural grass and end up being less work for you or your lawn maintenance person in beginning, as well as the end.

2. Raise the lawn mower height on your mower: Making your lawn look like a golf course weakens the grass by creating a very shallow root system in turn this brings on drought, disease, and even more weeds. Raising your lawn mower height to about 2 1/2 to 3-inches helps the lawn by preventing weeds. The taller the grass, the better this tall grass helps shade the soil surface from the sun and this encourages a deeper root system.

3. Leave the clippings: As the clippings decompose, they end up adding nitrogen to the soil and reduce the need for fertilizers. If you fertilize twice a year, that means you skip one of the two fertilizing needs for your lawn.

4. Water with care: Water infrequently, but deeply is the old saying and it stands true. Water grass too much and it ends up sending contaminated runoff straight into the nearest storm sewer system. Grass needs about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week during the growing season, including rain, to stay green and to keep the root system healthy. So be sure and water early in the day so that the wet grass will have plenty of time to dry before the cooler night air arrives.

5. Aerate the soil: This is not only important for grasses growth, but it also makes the lawn more resistant to drought by improving the water and air movement within the soil itself. Aerate once a year, mainly in the spring.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: If you are in the Oregon area and are looking for bamboo ideas to use in your own yard, check out Bamboo Valley in Albany, Oregon. They are licensed, bonded and Insured and will bring you the landscape design and consulting and installation. They also help you with control of bamboo and even the removal of. They sale custom dug bamboo, timber bamboo and even help with bamboo privacy screens. Give Dain Sansome a call at (541) 223-5142. Remember, bamboo is a sustainable resource and add beauty and value to your very own home or business.