Going Green

Going Green
Go Green with the University of Southern MS landscaping. Watering lawns, gardens and landscapes in the U.S. adds up to 8 billion gallons of water every day. “For every 1% that you increase your soil’s organic matter, you increase the water absorption capacity by 16,000 gallons of plant-available water per acre, down to one foot deep” (EPA). If you must water, only water once a week and give it a good soak early in the morning or after the sun goes down. Check the forecast and let Mother Nature handle the chore for you! Soaker hoses offer a great alternative to sprinklers and can conserve up to 50% more water. Consider using an outdoor water timer to ensure that you are watering correctly and only when necessary for healthier plants and less wasted water. When using a sprinkler to water the lawn, make sure that the driveway and sidewalks are not getting watered also. Make sure to give soil time to soak up water, so if water puddles, stop and wait for it to be absorbed. Try to direct the run-off from gutters into the lawn so it will be absorbed rather than streaming into other water supplies. Lawns need only about one inch of water a week to stay green in the summer, so be conscience of this fact, especially if your area is in the midst of a drought.
Another way to go green in landscaping is with your fertilizer. Every 40-pound bag of synthetic lawn fertilizer is manufactured with the fossil fuel equivalent of 3 gallons of gasoline. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, are often recycled biproducts such as corn meal, animal manure, fish emulsion or seaweed. The EPA estimates that only 35 percent of lawn fertilizers ever reach the grass plant; the remainder is volatized into the air or seeps into groundwater. Synthetic fertilizers overload your lawn with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. While such practices make your lawn look greener, they often lead to a weakened soil system which is more vulnerable to attack by insects and diseases which then make synthetic pesticides and fungicides necessary. Gradually, lawns become dependant on this cycle of chemical treatment, and chemical treatments often wipe out all soil organisms, good and bad. Organic fertilizers not only feed the grass, they nurture the soil, creating a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties. A natural soil environment is loaded with good soil organisms, all of which play a vital role in recycling nutrients.
The University can also go green with the Mower. Gas-powered lawn mowers collectively contribute up to 10 percent of the air pollution in the U.S. Electric mowers are far less polluting and the newer reel push mowers don't pollute at all. Lawn mowers and other gas-powered lawn care equipment contribute to 10% of the nation’s air pollution, according to the EPA. Electric mowers present a great alternative to gas mowers as they reduce pollution, make less noise, and are less expensive to fuel. Electric mowers also start automatically with the push of a button which makes it easier. "Small gasoline engines, the ones associated with lawn mowers, weed whackers and hedge trimmers, are some of the worst offenders in terms of air pollution..." says Paul Tukey





(2007). Organic Lawn Care Service. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from For a Healthier Planet Web site: http://www.safelawns.org/
Turkey, Paul A new campaign by SafeLawns encourages electric and reel mowers. Retrieved February 11, 2009, Web site: http://www.safelawns.org/tips/Grass_off_Gas.pdf