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Why Gas-powered Lawn Mowers Suck and Other Options

July 6, 2009 in Air Quality, Organic Gardening by Jennifer | 1 comment

According to the EPA, even though landscaping machines may be small, people own a lot of them and emissions from gas-powered lawn mowers and similar outdoor power equipment are a significant source of pollution, emitting high levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas into the air and community. In fact the EPA further notes that 5% of U.S. air pollution is generated by lawn mowers alone and another 5% by all other gas-powered yard equipment.

Brill Razorcut 38 push reel mower

One thing you can do is look into other lawn mower options, some of which include…

Until you get your alternative to gas-powered lawn mower, the EPA suggests you do the following:

  • Prevent spills and overfills of gas because even small gasoline spills evaporate and pollute the
    air. Use a funnel, or a spout with an automatic stop device when pouring gasoline into your mower, keep the cap twisted on tight, and keep your mower in a cool and dry area.
  • Change your oil and clean or replace air filters regularly plus keep up with other lawn mower maintenance to make sure your mower is running as efficiently as possible.
  • Reduce the amount of mowing time by having less grass and / or having low-maintenance turf grasses or grass/flower seed mixtures that grow slowly and require less mowing.

More resources:

Lawn Mower Exchange Program Calculator – use this calculator to see how exchanging your gas-powered mower for an electric or reel mower can improve air quality and save you money.

Learn where you can recycle your old gas-powered mower.

Quick Green Yard Tip – Push Mowers

August 30, 2008 in Organic Gardening by Jennifer | No comments

Push lawn mowers are better for the planet and your waistline than gas guzzling mowers. Some people think push mowers are more work, and they are somewhat, but not THAT much more anymore.

Most modern push lawn mowers have stronger blades, and work better, so it’s not like you see in those old movies, where some poor kid can barely move the mower. You’ll also need to rake, but that’s another good workout, plus you can gather up the clippings and compost them.

Green Audit Your Yard and Garden

July 21, 2008 in Green Audit, Organic Gardening by admin | No comments

This week we’ve been going over some easy green audits you can try at home. So far we’ve looked at

Tonight let’s look at our last green audit of the week – your yard. Following are some tips you can use when green auditing your yard and garden.

green yard audit

Do you use a green lawn mower.

Are you using smart water tactics?

  • Watering in the early morning or at night.
  • Keeping your water where it needs to go, not running off into the street.
  • Consider having less grass, and more bark, patio space, or soil.
  • Mulch plants and trees to conserve water.
  • Plant like with like – you don’t need to plant water loving plants among plants that conserve water. You’ll waste water when watering.

Are objects in your yard and garden recycled and sustainable – think about decorations and planters you may have.

Use recycled bags for clippings.

Toss out any toxic chemicals and pesticides and use natural fertilizer, weed control, and pest control options. To learn more read:

Reduce Your Fertilizer Use with Grasscycling

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Garden Pests

Plant organic seeds and organic plants.

A big part of proper green gardening and yard tactics has to do with where you live. There are general tips you can follow, but water conservation is going to be different in New Mexico vs. Oregon, so it pays to learn regional tactics. Visit the National Gardening Association and check out their regional site which will connect you with a regional newsletter and regional gardening blogs.

Visit Mother Earth’s Garden to learn all about green gardening.