Page 6 - Home Lawn and Garden Spring River Valley and Ozarks 2015

6VVV SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015
HOME, LAWN & GARDEN • RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE
Maintaining an appropriate grass height can lead to a healthier lawn. Cutting grass too short makes it susceptible to infestations and disease.
A MORE
ECO-FRIENDLY LAWN
IS JUST STEPS AWAY
Maintaining a lush lawn is a healthy and rewarding hobby that allows homeowners to spend some time
outdoors in nature. Lawn enthusiasts can make their hobby even healthier by adopt- ing several eco-friendly lawn-care strategies that not only make for a healthier lawn, but a healthier planet.
Responsible landscaping has grown increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more homeowners are adopting eco-friendly lawn-care practices in the same way they have embraced environmental- ly conscious behaviors in other areas of their lives. The following are a handful of ways lawn-care enthusiasts can incorporate eco-friendly practices into their landscap- ing routines.
➤ Maintain an appropriate grass height When temperatures start to peak in
summer, homeowners may be tempted to cut their grass as close as possible so they can reduce the number of afternoons they spend riding or pushing a mower in the hot sun. But cutting the grass too short makes it increasingly susceptible to infestations and disease, and such problems may need to be remedied with potentially harmful pesticides if no other approach proves effec- tive. Even if it means an extra afternoon or two mowing under the hot sun, maintain- ing an appropriate grass height can lead to a healthier lawn, as longer grass soaks up more sunlight, allowing it to grow a deep root system that will help a lawn survive drought and other potential problems.
➤ Cut back on harmful pesticides
Many homeowners now prefer to avoid pesticides at all costs, but sometimes pesticides are a last resort when lawns