April showers might bring May flowers – but they also bring an explosion of lawn growth. Traditional lawn care can rely on some pretty nasty chemicals and smoke-belching machines, but luckily there are alternatives. Read on to learn about some innovative products to keep your lawn beautiful and healthy, while keeping the environment healthy too.
Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower
Common gas-powered mowers actually produce a stunning amount of air pollution considering their small size, and spilled gasoline is a nasty toxin that has no place in your yard. Plus, both you and your neighbors will appreciate the lack of engine noise on a quiet summer afternoon.
Why It Was Chosen:
The Fiskars Momentum Reel mower is no relic from your grandparents’ garage – it’s a 21st century tool that incorporates several design innovations. A large-diameter reel and heavyweight blades give this mower extra “oomph”, which Fiskars says avoids jamming and reduces cutting effort by 30%. The “Versa-Cut” design allows cutting heights from 1-4”, and inset wheels allow close edge cutting along lawn borders. Finally, the mower promises an ergonomic design and low-friction, low-maintenance blades.
The Fiskars Momentum retails for $249.99. Visit the Fiskars website to locate a local dealer place an order. See also this similar mower by American Lawn Mower for $66.
Eco-Lawn Low Maintenance Grass Seed
If you’re creating a new lawn space, remember that certain types of grass require much less maintenance and fertilization than others. Choosing the right seed will save you time and money down the road, and help avoid the need for fertilizers and watering.
Why It Was Chosen:
Wildflower Farm has developed a proprietary blend of fescue grasses that it claims have several major advantages over the common blends you’d find at your local garden center. Eco-Lawn Grass Seed is said to be drought-resistant and both sun- and shade-tolerant. The manufacturer also states that Eco-Lawn grows well in virtually any soil type with no added fertilizers, and it grows so slowly that it requires mowing just once a month.
Learn more or order Eco-Lawn at the Eartheasy website. A 5-lb. bag (enough for 1,000 square feet of coverage) retails for $27.95.
Bradfield Organics Luscious Lawn Corn Gluten
Fertilizing and weed control can be a constant battle for homeowners – but who wants to create a perfect-looking lawn that’s too toxic to enjoy? Corn gluten, a non-toxic byproduct of the corn milling process, is an effective pre-emergent weed suppressant and nitrogen supplement.
Why It Was Chosen:
Luscious Lawn from Bradford Organics blocks weed germination by drying the weed seeds before they sprout. When spread in the spring and fall, it is effective against a wide range of common yard weeds, including dandelions, crabgrass, and clover. Its 9% nitrogen content means it can be also be used year round as a fertilizer supplement. Luscious Lawn is a granulated form of corn gluten, which is versatile for use in a fertilizer spreader or broadcasting by hand.
A 40-lb. bag of Luscious Lawn Corn Gluten (enough to treat approximately 2,000 sq. ft.) is available from Amazon for $49.99.
Rainwater Pillow Rainwater Collection Bladder
Watering is a key part of keeping your lawn healthy, but using municipal tap water to irrigate your yard can be expensive and strain local resources. Utilizing collected rainwater is free, plus it reduces the amount of wastewater that treatment plants need to process after a storm.
Why It Was Chosen:
The Rainwater Pillow is a big step up from a simple rain collection barrel. The standard version of this flexible storage bladder has a 1,000 gallon capacity and measures 9’ x 11’ x 2.5’, making it the perfect size for underneath a deck. It features debris filters and an integrated electric pump, so it can be used with standard garden hoses and sprinkler systems.
The Rainwater Pillow is an investment, but over time it can substantially reduce your utility costs and environmental footprint. The complete 1,000-gallon system is available for $2,500. Check out the MetaEfficient profile of the Rainwater Pillow, or visit the Rainwater Pillow website for more information.
Luster Leaf 1818 Rapitest Mini 4-in-1 Soil Tester
Before you start tinkering with water levels or soil chemistry, you need to know what you’re dealing with. A simple soil tester will let you know which aspects of your lawn are already healthy, and point out what needs attention.
Why It Was Chosen:
The Luster Leaf Rapitest 4-in-1 Soil Tester is a quick and effective way to measure four key elements of your lawn: moisture levels, soil acidity, light levels, and fertility. It requires no batteries, and includes information on ideal levels for over 150 plants.
You can find the Luster Leaf 4-in-1 Soil Tester at Amazon for $11.63.
Let us know if you have experience with any of these products by leaving a comment below.
