As you gaze out on the almost unnaturally green turf of your lawn, do you feel just a twinge of guilt about how it got that way? One of the most important secrets of a green and healthy lawn is regular lawn mowing. Yet, the average gas-powered lawn mower emits as much pollution as 20 or more cars running for the same amount of time.
There are many lawn mowing options that will keep your yard green and help the earth stay green as well.
Electric Mowers
If you're in the market for a quiet, emission-free mower, but have a larger yard, an electric mower might be the answer. Today's electric mowers have nearly as much power as their gas-powered cousins.
Although you can still find electric mowers tethered to a power cord, improvements in battery and motor technology have made cordless electric mowers a viable alternative for yard mowing.
Electric mowers on a full charge can run for up to an hour, but recharging is cheap. Charging overnight, an efficient electric mower can run for pennies per lawn mowing.
Reel Mowers
Reel mowers (also known as push mowers) are making a come back. The design and materials used in today's reel mowers make them easier to use than the classic models.
Weighing less than 20 pounds, with a wider cutting deck than most gas-powered walk behind mowers, a reel mower is a realistic option for those with small to medium yards.
Although you'll need a relatively flat lawn and have to mow more frequently, a reel mower is the greenest lawn mowing option available.
Mulching Mowers
If you can't imagine lawn mowing without a gas-powered mower, or if you have a larger lawn, consider a mulching mower. A mulching mower uses a special blade designed to chop grass clippings into small pieces. These small pieces drop to the soil between existing grass blades to create mulch.
Grass clipping mulch has several benefits:
 | Mowing your lawn to the correct height, along with proper watering, will encourage your grass to have deeper, healthier roots, leading to a lush, healthy lawn. |
 | The green, well-manicured lawn of your dreams is turning into a nightmare! Oh, it's still green and well manicured, but lawn mowing is taking a huge chunk of your time. |
When designing an irrigation system, it's important to specify the right type of sprinkler heads to use in each zone. Sprinkler heads come in many styles, sizes and spray patterns. Careful planning will guarantee that you select the right types of sprinkler heads to cover your lawn. |
Mowing the lawn sounds like the easiest thing in the world. You can either hire the local kid or do it yourself, but before you mow take some time to consider a few things. There is a correct way and an incorrect way to mow your lawn. |
Mowing the lawn is one of the key steps to having a green, healthy lawn. Grass that is regularly cut will from a dense mat of growth that will inhibit the germination and spread of weeds. |
