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Tips for healthy, less polluting lawns




"Green" Lawns?

Ahh. Spring arrives with the beautiful twittering of birds preparing their nests for the unborn. What - can't hear them? The low rumble of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, rototillers and air compressors not only drowns out natures' symphony, but also disturbs skittish wildlife and sleepy neighbours.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, operating older gas-powered lawn mowers for just 1 hour will produce as much air pollution as a new car does in 11 hours. Lawn mowers newer than 1996 have to comply to new exhaust emission standards, which is a fantastic place to begin. Many home-maintenance machines offer 4-stroke engines options and while less polluting than 2-stroke, they still produce emissions.


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Gasoline-powered mowers cut the lawn in such a way that the lawn will experience even greater water loss and increased disease problems in lawns. Too often the blades become dull and pock-marked ripping, rather than cutting the lawn. However, blades are easily sharpened and can then provide a sharp, clean cut that will be less damaging to the grass. Setting the blades level a bit higher will reduce stress on the grass and will also prevent moisture loss, which means less watering.


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There is a returned interest in push mowers due to environmental awareness of gas engine pollution and electricity use. Typically, crowded cities are resulting in smaller lawns, reducing the need for large, heavy mowers. Push mowers (with 5 or 7 blades) are light and easy to operate and, being much smaller, take up less storage room and do not pollute. Push mowers are actually quite cheap and many stores are rising to meet the increased consumer interest, however they do not work well on some varieties of grass, tall or wet grass.

There are other choices on the market than electric, push and gas lawn mowers. There are solar-powered models, too. We read of one featured in Omni magazine that operated on its own, traveling the entire lawn area during the day and resting at night. It looked to be about the size of a vacuum power-head. Apparently, a special fence is used to keep it within the lawn boundary and there is a built in alarm to prevent theft.

So get your exercise, reduce air and noise pollution; save yourself some money and have a healthier lawn. Or let the sun run the mower for you. Either way, the world will breathe a little easier and maybe you will hear a songbird or two.


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