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A Clean Cut Lawn
Jeff @ 402-540-1463 or jeff@acleancutlawn.com
Jeff @ 402-540-1463 or jeff@acleancutlawn.com
Our environment is clearly very important to us. None of us want to do anything to endanger our natural habitat and resources. However, too many people (lawn care providers, included) have an attitude of "what damage can one person really do?" The answer is, "actually, quite a bit."
Please look at the following information to understand some simple things we all need to keep in mind. A Clean Cut Lawn is very careful to adhere to all suggestions, and maintain a "green" operation. Another step toward becoming "green" is to mulch your clippings, rather than bag and remove them. By simply mulching your grass, or "grass cycling," you are returning as much as 30% of your lawn's required nitrogen for no additional cost!!
Please look at the following information to understand some simple things we all need to keep in mind. A Clean Cut Lawn is very careful to adhere to all suggestions, and maintain a "green" operation. Another step toward becoming "green" is to mulch your clippings, rather than bag and remove them. By simply mulching your grass, or "grass cycling," you are returning as much as 30% of your lawn's required nitrogen for no additional cost!!
From: http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/watrshed/educate/pesticid/index.htm
How to Prevent Water Pollution & Maintain a Healthy Environment
Tips to get you started:
Plant native shrubbery, flowers, trees, and turf. Native plants thrive with the soil conditions, rainfall, and climate in your area, with little to no chemical additions. Mow your lawn at the tallest height suitable for the variety of grass planted. The roots of your lawn grow deeper as the grass grows taller. During a drought deeper roots can better utilize water.
Depending on the variety of grass planted, your lawn can go dormant without water during the hotter, drier months. Otherwise, during summer months, water 1 1/2 inches over 3 applications per week. During spring and fall, water 1 inch over 1 to 2 applications per week.
Aerate your lawn. Create space for beneficial organisms to enhance the soil and reduce compaction to boost root growth.
Obtain a soil test. Know exactly how much fertilizer your lawn needs. Some common lawn problems are caused by over fertilizing.
Use natural pest predators. Ladybugs, green lacewings, decolate snails and toads, and preying mantis' feed on common garden pests.
Use horticultural oil sprays or diluted liquid soaps.
Use botanical insecticides, which include naturally occurring plant extracts.
Sprinkle corn meal gluten on lawns to inhibit weed growth.
Pour boiling water on weeds or in ant colonies.
Physically remove weeds by digging or pulling.
Spray vinegar on targeted weeds.
Bait slugs with beer or yeast water.
Lure yellow jackets into narrow necked bottles with juice or sugar water.
If You Must Use a Pesticide, Use the Least Toxic and...
Identify the pest and use a target specific pesticide.
Read the label and apply accordingly.
Only apply pesticides where needed and clean up any spills.
Call a certified professional pesticide applicator.
Contact the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department to properly dispose of any unused pesticides.
From: http://www.lawncare.net/the-benefits-of-using-a-mulching-lawn-mower/
The Benefits of Using a Mulching Lawn Mower
Jan 30th, 2009 | By LawnCare.Net <http://www.lawncare.net/author/alex/> | Category: Lawn Care Equipment <http://www.lawncare.net/topic/lawn-care-equipment/>
It’s completely a myth that using a mulching mower causes thatch buildup - nothing could be further than the truth. Using a mulching lawn mower is good for the grass and for the environment. To have a healthy lawn, and reduce waste at municipal facilities, consider using a mulching mower.
Keep Grass Healthy with a Mulching Mower
The way you mow your lawn <http://www.lawncare.net/lawn-care-equipment/> makes a big difference in its health. A lot of people mistakenly think that leaving grass clippings on the lawn causes thatch problems. Thatch is not composed of grass clippings, but rather of living and dead pieces of stem between the soil and the green grass blades. Mowing grass with a mulching lawn mower can actually help decrease thatch problems by keeping turf healthy.
All types of grass are heavy feeders. One of the best ways to return nutrients to the soil is to leave the grass clippings on the lawn. Grass clippings are high in nitrogen, and thus make great compost <http://www.lawncare.net/organic-lawn-fertilizer/>; however, they also help restore the soil by adding nitrogen back to it, when left on the ground. As long as a regular mowing schedule is maintained, and you do not remove any more than 1/3 of the grass blade in any one mowing session, the amount of grass clippings left on the lawn, and the length of those clippings will not be prohibitive to breaking down quickly. (This means that you might have to adjust your mowing schedule if it rains frequently-to keep from removing too much grass blade at one time.)
How is a Mulching Lawn Mower Different than other Mowers?
It is possible to accomplish similar aims with a regular push mower that you can with a mulching mower, but mulching mowers have certain features that make it easier to “grass-cycle,” or return grass to the lawns. A mulching mower typically has rotary blades and a mechanism that chops the grass clippings finely and blows them back down into the lawn where they can break down. For best results with a mulching lawn mower, it is important to mow when the grass is dry and before it has gotten too long, necessitating removal of more than one third of the blade at a time. To return grass clippings to the lawn with a conventional power mower, cut grass to a height of between 2 and 2.5 inches. Mow every seven days when grass is actively growing, and every two weeks in the spring and fall. To chop up the clippings and retain an even mowing pattern, rotate your mowing direction 90 degrees with each mowing. To mulch with a conventional mower, always keep the mower blades sharp.
How to Prevent Water Pollution & Maintain a Healthy Environment
Tips to get you started:
Plant native shrubbery, flowers, trees, and turf. Native plants thrive with the soil conditions, rainfall, and climate in your area, with little to no chemical additions. Mow your lawn at the tallest height suitable for the variety of grass planted. The roots of your lawn grow deeper as the grass grows taller. During a drought deeper roots can better utilize water.
Depending on the variety of grass planted, your lawn can go dormant without water during the hotter, drier months. Otherwise, during summer months, water 1 1/2 inches over 3 applications per week. During spring and fall, water 1 inch over 1 to 2 applications per week.
Aerate your lawn. Create space for beneficial organisms to enhance the soil and reduce compaction to boost root growth.
Obtain a soil test. Know exactly how much fertilizer your lawn needs. Some common lawn problems are caused by over fertilizing.
Use natural pest predators. Ladybugs, green lacewings, decolate snails and toads, and preying mantis' feed on common garden pests.
Use horticultural oil sprays or diluted liquid soaps.
Use botanical insecticides, which include naturally occurring plant extracts.
Sprinkle corn meal gluten on lawns to inhibit weed growth.
Pour boiling water on weeds or in ant colonies.
Physically remove weeds by digging or pulling.
Spray vinegar on targeted weeds.
Bait slugs with beer or yeast water.
Lure yellow jackets into narrow necked bottles with juice or sugar water.
If You Must Use a Pesticide, Use the Least Toxic and...
Identify the pest and use a target specific pesticide.
Read the label and apply accordingly.
Only apply pesticides where needed and clean up any spills.
Call a certified professional pesticide applicator.
Contact the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department to properly dispose of any unused pesticides.
From: http://www.lawncare.net/the-benefits-of-using-a-mulching-lawn-mower/
The Benefits of Using a Mulching Lawn Mower
Jan 30th, 2009 | By LawnCare.Net <http://www.lawncare.net/author/alex/> | Category: Lawn Care Equipment <http://www.lawncare.net/topic/lawn-care-equipment/>
It’s completely a myth that using a mulching mower causes thatch buildup - nothing could be further than the truth. Using a mulching lawn mower is good for the grass and for the environment. To have a healthy lawn, and reduce waste at municipal facilities, consider using a mulching mower.
Keep Grass Healthy with a Mulching Mower
The way you mow your lawn <http://www.lawncare.net/lawn-care-equipment/> makes a big difference in its health. A lot of people mistakenly think that leaving grass clippings on the lawn causes thatch problems. Thatch is not composed of grass clippings, but rather of living and dead pieces of stem between the soil and the green grass blades. Mowing grass with a mulching lawn mower can actually help decrease thatch problems by keeping turf healthy.
All types of grass are heavy feeders. One of the best ways to return nutrients to the soil is to leave the grass clippings on the lawn. Grass clippings are high in nitrogen, and thus make great compost <http://www.lawncare.net/organic-lawn-fertilizer/>; however, they also help restore the soil by adding nitrogen back to it, when left on the ground. As long as a regular mowing schedule is maintained, and you do not remove any more than 1/3 of the grass blade in any one mowing session, the amount of grass clippings left on the lawn, and the length of those clippings will not be prohibitive to breaking down quickly. (This means that you might have to adjust your mowing schedule if it rains frequently-to keep from removing too much grass blade at one time.)
How is a Mulching Lawn Mower Different than other Mowers?
It is possible to accomplish similar aims with a regular push mower that you can with a mulching mower, but mulching mowers have certain features that make it easier to “grass-cycle,” or return grass to the lawns. A mulching mower typically has rotary blades and a mechanism that chops the grass clippings finely and blows them back down into the lawn where they can break down. For best results with a mulching lawn mower, it is important to mow when the grass is dry and before it has gotten too long, necessitating removal of more than one third of the blade at a time. To return grass clippings to the lawn with a conventional power mower, cut grass to a height of between 2 and 2.5 inches. Mow every seven days when grass is actively growing, and every two weeks in the spring and fall. To chop up the clippings and retain an even mowing pattern, rotate your mowing direction 90 degrees with each mowing. To mulch with a conventional mower, always keep the mower blades sharp.
Click on the following links for some great information!
Fall Leaf Clean Up:
A Clean Cut Lawn Tutorial
A Clean Cut Lawn Tutorial