A green lawn isn't just about colour. It's about reducing resources needed to keep lawns healthy but still having a useful and attractive greenspace. The following steps make it easy!
Less is more - more time to relax, that is. Replace excessive turf with raised vegetable or berry beds, rock gardens, butterfly or cutting gardens, or install a gravel or stone patio. With less to mow, an inexpensive push mower quickly and easily trims the lawn (and perhaps even your waistline).
A thatching blade or a thorough raking loosens compacted dead grass (thatch) to improve air circulation and water absorption.
Aerating (removing small 'plugs' of turf) stimulates root development, making grass more resistant to drought periods and common diseases. Rent a 'core-aerator' with your neighbours for convenience and cost-savings.
After aerating lightly top-dress with compost; overseed bare areas to compete with weeds.
Avoid over-watering: excess moisture encourages fungal disease and shallow, weak roots. Water on wind-free early mornings.
Set mowing height at 2 1/2-3 inches (6-7cm). Short grass is vulnerable to disease, insects and drought.
In areas where growing turf is a struggle, why fight it? Instead consider alternate groundcovers like bark mulch, rock or creeping fuss-free plants like thyme, ajuga or moss phlox to suit your site's conditions.
Unless grass is very long, leave the nitrogen-rich clippings on your lawn. This free natural fertilizer conserves water by shading roots, stimulates deeper root penetration into the soil and encourages earthworms to aerate your lawn.
Remember, in times of drought, brown is the new green - your grass will go dormant but naturally rebound to a healthy green when the rains do come.
