The Birds and the Bees, the Twigs and the Trees

As our winter vacation from yard work ends, lawnmowers and hoses are coming out of hibernation.  But before you roll up your sleeves and start digging in the dirt, take a moment to stop and think about all the energy, besides your own elbow grease, that goes into making your yard the envy of the neighborhood.  

For many, the first few weekends of spring are filled with the removal of dead leaves and twigs, the raking and mowing of grass, and the sprinkling of mulch, fertilizer and water.  Our lawns, trees, shrubs and gardens can end up taking up a lot of our time in the warmer months.  But did you know just how much of a drain they can also be on the environment?

The David Suzuki Foundation estimates that every time we run a two stroke gas-powered lawn mower for an hour we are actually emitting as much pollution as when we drive a car for 600 kilometres.  And according to Alberta Environment, Canadian water usage, which is already one of the highest per capita in the world, goes up by an astounding 50 per cent in the summer months due to the watering of lawns and gardens. 

But before you gleefully give up mowing and watering for good, take note, there is a jungle of environmentally friendly landscaping options out there that can help save money, time, energy and water.

Manual Mowing

The smell of cut grass is synonymous with summer; unfortunately the scent of gasoline isn’t quite as nice.  Gas-powered lawn mowers produce unpleasant emissions and their electrical counterparts, while significantly less polluting, still guzzle up a lot of energy.  A better alternative?  Solar powered and push mowers.

Push mowers are making quite a comeback and require less effort than you might think.  They not only cut grass quietly, but are also emission and electricity free.  For more information on how you can help “mow down pollution” visit the Clean Air Foundation.

Fertilizer Freedom

You’ll be happy to hear that you can put away the rake and simply leave those grass clippings on the ground after you mow.  Known as “grasscycling”, this part of yard work is effortless.  Simply leave clippings on the ground and as they decompose they will act as a natural fertilizer. 

Another great way to infuse your soil with nutrients is to add compost.  Compost not only makes a great fertilizer, but it reduces what ends up in our landfills.  According to the Clean Calgary Association, food scraps account for approximately one third of landfill waste – something that could be easily avoided.  For details on how to compost, visit the Clean Calgary Association or the Composting Council of Canada.

Watering Wisely

Lawns need much less water than you may think to remain healthy; only 2.5 centimetres a week to be precise.  So check how much it has rained in the past week before pulling out the sprinkler.   

If your lawn or garden is due for a soak, you can help minimize water waste by watering early in the morning or later in the evening when less water will evaporate, and by watering deeply only once a week.  Keeping grass at least three inches long and adding mulch to gardens will also help keep your yard hydrated for longer.  To really save water outdoors, try xeriscaping, a water-wise landscaping concept that only uses plants and vegetation that are accustomed to a dry environment.  Visit Alberta Environment for more information on xeriscaping.

So whether your yard is a little sliver of grass or a sprawling acre of gardens, dig into these green gardening tips and save both yourself and the environment some well deserved energy.