Is your lawn service maintaining your lawn at a height that maximizes the efficiency of your water use, minimizes your fertilizer and pesticide use, and guarantees your lawn is being managed in the most sustainable way possible?Many homeowners are unaware that by cutting their grass too low or too high, they can actually contribute to environmental degradation.
Choose a lawn service company that works with homeowners to manage their lawns in the most environmentally sustainable and socially responsible way.
The height to mow your lawn to is determined by the type of grass you have, your soil conditions and the climate in which you live.
Keeping your grass at the appropriate height reduces the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, and water your need to use to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.
It is recommended that your lawn care franchises provide you a lawn service that mows your lawn to between 2 and 3 inches high (as previously mentioned, this varies by the variety of grass you have).
Not only does this height reduce the weed growth because taller grass chokes weeds out, it also decreases how much water your lawn needs.
Root length is directly proportional to the height of the blade of grass; longer roots mean an increased access to water because water near the soil surface evaporates quicker than that at further down, thus roots have increased access to water at a variety of depths.
Short grass also allows the soil to be more exposed which increases water loss and erosion.
Keeping your grass 2 to 3 inches long improves your water conservation (vital in the drier climates where some of our lawn care franchises operate) and lessens the pesticides necessary to keep your weeds under control.
It is also important that your grass is not allowed to grow too long or be mowed too high.
When too much time passes between mows by your lawn service, the grass can be traumatized and be weakened thereby decreasing the lawn's overall health.
When grass is mowed with a blade height greater than 3 inches, the grass tends to lay down creating an uneven and unappealing look.
Ultimately it comes back to species of grass you choose to use in your lawn.
Choosing a native grass means that you'll increase your likelihood of having a healthy lawn that requires minimal maintenance.
This minimal maintenance translates as less watering and less fertilizer because native grasses are most suited the local climate and soils.
As a result, you are one step closer to having a sustainable lawn.
It's also important to use a low-impact lawn service, that use electric equipment that is powered by renewable energy, works with local organic lawn treatment companies, and ensures that all grass clippings are recycled and composted.