Eco Friendly Lawncare
- Bob Dahm
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Provided by Ami Voeltz, Valley Climate Coalition, and Bob Dahm with Earthwise Organic Consulting
Eco-friendly lawn care means maintaining a healthy yard while using less water, fewer chemicals, and lower-emission tools—and it’s practical and cost-saving! Chemicals applied on our lawn negatively affect us, our children, animals, and our water supply. Improving your lawn care routine will help you discover your path to sustainability in your landscape ecosystem and will make your yard a retreat for people and nature.
Eco-friendly lawn care can be achieved through 5 actions focusing on healthy soil = healthy lawns:
Stop applying synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These products decimate the beneficial microbes in the soil we are trying to grow.
Follow an organic soil program that addresses soil health. This includes applying compost, soil amendments, and organic fertilizer.
Mow at 3" high. This will promote deeper root growth, resulting in a thicker lawn that is more drought tolerant that will conserve water.
Convert problem lawn areas to native plants. In areas with deep shade, steep slopes, and hot areas that are all hostile environments for grass, add native plants or pocket gardens that will also support bird, bee, and butterfly habitats for you to enjoy.
Go electric with your yard tools. You can save on maintenance costs and reduce emissions by switching to electric mowers, trimmers, and blowers.
Be patient! It takes 3 years to get soil healthy, but once it's there, you can back off on watering and fertilizing.
Take the Less Lawn More Life Challenge and receive weekly tips on reducing lawn size and increasing native plants in your yard.
Visit the resources below to get started!
The ValleyClimateCoalition.org is committed to building strong, resilient communities in the Twin Cities East Metro and St. Croix Valley through regional collaboration, shared resources, and taking meaningful climate action together.
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