Lawns - Benefits of a Healthy Lawn

Lawn, Yard, Turf, Grass - It's a Good Thing

Much interest has been focused on gardening in recent years.  The vegetable garden, the perennial garden, the cutting garden..... but one aspect of the home landscape, industrial landscape, and urban landscape that we overlook is THE LAWN.

We all have 'it' but 'it' is taken for granted.  In 2004 total acres of turf was estimated at a whopping 46.5 million acres.  The grass industry has available 7500 kinds of grass, with over 50 species being cultivated. Home owners in the US spend $6.4 billion annually on lawn care which includes fertilizers, weed and pest controls, equipment, and water.  With this much money spent on grass, I was interested to see what benefits we do get.

Throughout time recreation as been staged on the lawn.  Badminton, croquet, Frisbee... all need the grass.  Sports like soccer and touch football at a family picnic use grass.  Relaxation is the real game! 

The human factor cannot be overstated. 

(Note the unused chairs!)

Reducing tension and getting a feeling of well-being are benefits of lawns.

Turf has a positive effect on the environment too. 

The front yard offers a cool space. Unlike the concrete walks and street that cook us, grass of eight front yards can actually have the cooling effect of a 70 ton air conditioner. (Our home equipment only has 4 ton capacity).

Lawns absorb water, reducing runoff, and erosion. 

The root system of turf is dense.  It pulls water into the soil, and filters the water that eventually get into the underground aquifer.  According to The Lawn Institute one blade of grass can have 387 miles of roots.  A healthy lawn can have 850 plants per square foot. 

Sodded lawns actually pull in more moisture than seeded  lawns even after after two years of growth. A healthy lawn can actually absorb more rain than a field of wheat by 6x, and 4x better than hay.  

 Healthy lawns - healthy water.

Air quality is also affected by grass.  Carbon dioxide is pulled from the atmosphere and releases enough oxygen to support a family of four.

A 625 square foot lawn provides enough oxygen for one person for an entire day.

Tons of dust and dirt in the air are trapped by lawn each year.

Benefits of a healthy lawn are evident in cleaner water, less erosion, and cleaner air.

At the beginning, I stated the enormous amount of money we spend each year on our lawns.  When asked why they are willing to do all that work and spend that amount of money, homeowners felt that they would recoup the money on the lawn with added value of their property.  In fact, there is a 100% - 200% recovery rate on landscaping, in comparison to money spent on a patio or deck which only returned 40% - 70% of the investment. 

Realtors also put an importance on curb appeal since a well maintained front yard has a perceived value to a buyer. 

The healthy Lawn serves up alot of benefits.  Relaxation, recreation, filter of air and water, and monetary value to the homeowner. 

I couched this article as though we have 'healthy' lawns.  I'll define that concept, and give ideas on how to achieve a healthy lawn next week. 

What benefits do you get from your yard?  Let us know.  And thanks for stopping by.  Claudia

Organic Lawn Care for Fall

Steps to Maintain an Organic Lawn

The Five Rivers MetroParks in the Dayton area offered a full day of talks at the Cox Arboretum Sunday on Gardening in Ohio.  I was honored to present two programs on Organic Fertilizers and Organic Lawn Care.  With the summer we have had here in SW Ohio, we had a lot to talk about. With the extreme heat of over 20 days over 90 degrees F, and no measurable rain for eight weeks or more, our lawns really need some tender loving care. So let me summarize the steps needed to help our lawns rebound from the summer.  1.  If you cannot do anything else, apply compost to your lawn and rake it in to a depth of 1/2 “.  The organic material will build your soil, and permit the roots of your turf to get nutrients, air and water. 
2.  Over seeding your lawn will help thicken it, and  fill in bare spots.  Rake loose the dead grass to allow the seed to make contact with the soil.  Again, spread compost lightly over the seed and keep watered.  Grass seed providers are marketing seed for any variety of conditions you may have in your yard.  From drought tolerant, to insect and disease resistant, seed for sunny areas, seed for shady areas.  Check local suppliers to get a seed that matches your needs 
3.  Apply an organic fertilizer.  These come in granular and liquid form.  The slow release nutrients will release food over a longer period of time compared to chemical applications.  Chemical fertilizers can give a fast green up, but leave the root zone with no long term benefits.  Chemicals can dangerously impact the microorganism colonies in the soil, repel earthworms and harm the soil structure. 
4.  Mow high.  Most turf experts are recommending a 3 1/2” to 4” tall cutting.  Taller grass blades have deeper root systems.  Deeper roots can take up more moisture helping grass to resist drought.  Taller grass will also shade the soil.  This shading will protect the soil surface from drying out.  Weed seeds will also be shaded, and reduce weed seed germination. 
5.  Water deeply.  Reduce water usage by eliminating frequent sprinkling, and opt for longer sessions of watering.  Check you soil moisture after watering by inserting a trowel into grass.  Moisture should reach about 4” deep. 

6.  Mulch grass clippings and leaves.  The is great organic matter and your lawn will only benefit from the added nutrition.  Grass clipping do not create thatch.  Clippings actually increase worm activity and worms help aerate the soil, opening up the root zone to nutrients, air, and water.
7.   Stay on top of weeds.  Do not let weeds to go to seed.  The battle is half over by eliminating the source of future generations of weeds.  Remove weeds from the lawn.  If weeds are few,  dig them out.  I also recommend an organic herbicide such as 20% Horticultural Vinegar or a product like ‘BurnOut’.  This clove based product will kill any vegetation it lands on, so take care to target only weeds.  
        

By mowing high, watering deeply, and adding organic material to your lawn, you can have a great looking, healthy lawn. 

How did your lawn hold up this summer?  Let us know what worked for you and express any concerns you may have.  Claudia

Building Blocks of a Landscape

Landscape Ideas to Begin Your Garden Project

One of the first toys we played with as very young children was blocks.  We stacked them, lined them up, knocked them over.  These block were the foundation of our learning, reasoning, and hand/eye coordination. The same foundation is needed in our yards.  Before we get too excited about putting in plant material, we need to set the foundation.

Landscape ideas that include Hardscapes such as patios, walls, walkways, and paths need to be planned and implemented before the plants.  I know!  That is the hard work part; but this step is essential for the future use, convenience, and visual appeal you want in your yard. The process doe not have to be extremely expensive either.

We've used hard wood mulch for paths, with the edges lines with 'found' rocks.    The sitting area can be just a patch of grass that you plan to set a table and chairs on.  The walkways that invite folks through you garden can also be turf shaped between beds that is easy to travel and cool to the eye.

Another easy, inexpensive material  for a path is gravel.  Decomposed granite is a powdery material with a powdery blend to 1/4" in size. This can be tamped into a sturdy surface that will also drain water.  This drainage will allow plant and trees roots to get water that would otherwise be heading for the nearest sewer.

Larger sized gravels can also be an economical option   The gravel we used was tamped down with a tamper. The gravel and tamper were not too pricey and we make the weekly trip to Lowes for these supplies.  I have to say, however, that the larger gravel paths were not comfortable for the dog.  She struggles finding her footing and often resorts to walking in the beds.

Making areas that you want to plant may require you to 'build up' a raised bed.  This will allow you to put in lots of compost, and ensure good drainage.  Whether you are preparing this bed for vegetables, perennials, or shrubbery,  I find building up is easier than having to dig in heavy soil.  In our yard we used stackable blocks just like the good old days!

The stepping stones used here were needed because of the heavy foot traffic in an area that retains water.  Take a good look around your yard for these types of issues too.  Planning ahead will allow you to really enjoy your space.

Of course if you envision a bigger project , it is always wise to consult a professional landscape designer or architect. Depending on your skill level, you  may attempt some of the projects yourself. And a word to the wise, too often the budget can get out of hand quickly! So envision your space, enrich your space, but most of all, enjoy your space.

I've touch on a few items that I'd like to address next time.  The building of 'good soil', and  conserving water.  Hope to see your soon. Thanks for visiting.