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Earth-Friendly Lawn Care

Ecologist Diedre Russeth shares lawn-care tips that won't offend Mother Nature.

An old-fashioned push mower is the most environmentally friendly way to cut the yard. There's zero noise and air pollution, plus it's great exercise!

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Ecologist Diedre Russeth provides tips for environmentally-friendly lawn care.

Use lawn-care products that are nontoxic and do not use a lot of natural resources.

The main nutrients yards crave are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You can send a soil sample to your local county extension service and they'll provide an analysis and tell you which fertilizers your lawn needs.

Use organic products on the lawn. Organic products are carbon-based and are therefore not harmful to the environment. Bone meal, mulch, cottonseed meal, compost and manure are all examples of organic yard-care solutions. They are safe to use around children and pets, too.

Apply fertilizers in the spring and fall, when there's less rain and less of a chance for runoff.

Corn gluten is a great natural herbicide. It's a pre-emergent herbicide, meaning it should be applied in the spring. Corn gluten is an effective combatant for dandelions and other broadleaf weeds.

Use native grasses and wildflowers as borders. They're easy to care for and require less fertilizer and watering.

Mow frequently can help control weeds before they have a chance to mature.

Brown patches of thatch are breeding grounds for disease. Thatch also prevents water and fertilizers from penetrating into the lawn. Get rid of thatch by giving the lawn a vigorous raking with a heavy wrought-iron rake.

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