An article in today's Globe and Mail states, while many towns and cities in Canada have outright banned pesticides for your lawn, the green grass may not be as green as you had thought. Gas-guzzling lawn mowers can emit the same amount of smog in one year as a car travelling 3,300 km. While in Canada only 15% of homes use pesticides, the quest for that perfect lawn still persists.
What the article does not mention is that lawns are one of the most inefficient plants to cultivate on your property. They take up a lot of water, most of which in Canada would be otherwise potable water. Lawns do not soak up nearly as much carbon dioxide as, say, a tree or an herbacious garden. They also allow for runoff and land degradation as the root structure is not very deep.
If you must have a lawn, watering early morning or evening is better than mid-day when the sun cannot dry up the water as quickly. Let grass clipping lie (In Toronto, it is now a by-law) as they help shelter out drying sunlight, protect roots, and eventually compost to help nourish the soil naturally. Let grass grow to at least 4 inches before cutting. The longer blades will create more shade and shelter roots. Mix in small gardens and trees throughout your lawn for shade and plant variation.
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