We should be doing all we can to limit the amount of grass we grow on our properties. Lawns are “environmentally expensive” which means that they require large use of natural resources such as fuel and water.

 

We should be doing all we can to limit the amount of grass we grow on our properties. Lawns are “environmentally expensive” which means that they require large use of natural resources such as fuel and water. To maintain a grassy expanse that is free of weeds, thrives in the variable weather we experience in this area, and looks pristine to the eye, many opt to use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Reduce your lawn and reduce the effort, time, and money you spend maintaining grass, and avoid the use of polluting chemicals.

 

Limit the amount of grass by turning part of your yard into a garden bed. Whether you want a flowerbed, vegetable plot, or shrub and bulb garden, you can get a head start now by following a few easy steps. This method helps avoid the backbreaking effort required to remove grass and creates fertile soil.

 

Step 1: Determine what you want to plant and where. Consider the sun in that location. If you are planning a vegetable garden, make sure the bed is in full sun. Other kinds of gardens may do well in shade. Do the research so you create the perfect home for your new plants.

 

Step 2: Once you have selected an area, mow the grass short. Cover the mowed grass with at least four layers of newspaper. Make sure all the grass is covered. Then wet the newspaper with a hose and cover it with three to five inches of mulch to hold the newspaper in place.

 

Step 3: Relax and plan your garden all winter long! While winter howls outside, your fertile garden will be in the works with the mulch, newspaper, and grass breaking down to create rich compost.

 

Step 4: When spring arrives, you’ll be ready to get planting, and will have less lawn to mow.

 

— Brought to you by the Rye Garden Club Conservation Committee