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!
Have you heard about this weekend’s greatest camping spot on the planet? Well, it just so happens that you won’t need to go far… it’s your own backyard!
This comment would NEVER come from me… but I’ve heard it (at least 20 times from family and friends over the past three months).
f the storm.
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?
Have you heard about this weekend’s greatest camping spot on the planet? Well, it just so happens that you won’t need to go far… it’s your own backyard!
ed of course!)