Spring was unbelievably rainy here in Cleveland. It certainly provided us with some beautifully lush green lawns… but now it’s summer and, oh, how the tides do change…
There hasn’t been much rain lately and now I’m cringing as our neighbors run their sprinklers for hours on end in the middle of the day! Sheesh… what are they thinking?
There are some very simple and very green ways to keep your yard looking green too. Here are five of the simplest of simple tips to help you:
- Watering – ummm, yea. Middle of the day… not so wise! Much of the water evaporates before it ever reaches the roots. Lawns only need an inch of water per week so this means about ONCE a week without the help of Mother Nature’s rain. If Mother Nature is helping, don’t turn on that sprinkler! Plus, too many shallow waterings will bring roots to the surface and burn out the lawn even faster. If you must water, early morning or evening is best. Don’t forget that you can put your greywater to work too!
- Mowing – don’t mow in the heat of the day either. Cut grass loses moisture rapidly and (again!) can cause the lawn to burn out even faster, so yes… early morning or evening again!

- No “low mow” – the optimal length is 3”, so don’t over-mow or mow too short. Taller grass grows a deeper root system, grows slower, requires less water and helps prevent weeds.
- Mulch it – mulching mowers actually cut grass and chop it so it can act as mulch to hold moisture (but if you don’t have a mulching mower, consider composting the clippings).
- Water wisely – it won’t make your lawn greener but again, if you must water, actually water the lawn, NOT sidewalks and drives! Just pay close attention not to water wildly and prevent waste.
See… simple! The mercury may rise, the rain may stay away, but the grass can be greener on your side of the fence too!




Like many parts of the country, my “neck of the woods” has been serving up some pretty rainy weather. Doing much outside has been an anomaly, unless you’re a duck or enjoy ankle-deep mud. (Me? Not a duck. Don’t like mud.)
add all of the additional time spraying each other with the hose… well, that percentage is probably higher!) They’re also required to treat and filter the water before they release it into the environment… another big bonus. And, if you wash at home (and don’t use eco-friendly cleaners) it just ends up going directly into the environment.
Sound crazy? It sure does, but did you know that one in five toilets actually has an extremely wasteful leak? And these leaks can waste anywhere from 30 to (yes!) 500 GALLONS of water per day!
As more and more families try to cut costs, more and more families are handling car maintenance at home as opposed to dropping by a local maintenance shop. The most common task is changing your car’s oil, but… what do YOU do with your used motor oil?
Fortunately we’ve just ended an oppressive heat wave and dry spell here in Cleveland, but I’m happy to say that our lawn held up amazingly well.
I’ve never given much thought to what I plant other than selecting what I think is “cute” and my “color choice” for the season, but I’ve also made some poor selections when they’ve required a lot of water to keep them bright, cheery… and alive!
s by state, local nurseries and organizations too! All of them can help you make the smartest choices.
I’ve evaluated hand washing vs. using the dishwasher and found, overwhelmingly, that (if you have one) 
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Greywater is defined as the “waste water generated from bathing, showering, dishwashing and laundry”. Initial thoughts might sound something like “well… ick.” Sure, I certainly don’t recommend you grab a glass(!), but there are plenty of household uses for this water (as long as you aren’t using harsh cleansers and detergents).