Go Green With Eco-friendly Lawn Care
Residential lawns consume over 2.5 billion gallons of water a year. This makes taking a natural approach to lawn care appealing for homeowners. Also, almost 3 million tons of fertilizer are applied to residential lawns every year, and homeowners typically use three times more pesticide per acre than farmers. There are a few simple steps that landowners can take to make more environmentally sound choices when it comes to lawn care.
Healthy soil is the foundation of natural lawn care. When you return nutrients and maintain your soil, it will ultimately lead to better lawn establishment. Performing a soil test is a good place to start. Labs can test your soil chemistry for a nominal fee, and University of Illinois Extension staff can help interpret the results. Illinois Extension's soil testing website, extension.Illinois.Edu/soil/soil-testing, also offers instructions about DIY tests that homeowners can do, including soil infiltration to gauge how well their soil drains. A ribbon test can assess soil texture for levels of clay, sand, and silt which is important for how different plant roots access nutrients, water, and air. You can add nutrients and other amendments based on the soil test results.
Maintenance like core aeration and recycling grassing clippings will also improve your soil. Perform core aeration when lawns are actively growing, typically in May or September. Instead of bagging up grass clippings, allow them to drop in place. Recycled clippings can provide up to 25% of nutrient needs for the lawn and add organic matter and moisture to the soil. In September, top-dress the lawn with compost or other organic matter. In October, mow over fallen leaves to add organic matter to the soil.
While the soil is the foundation, there are other simple practices that will aid in helping the lawn grow well.
• Mow high and remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade in one cutting. This helps to establish a deep root system and crowd out weeds. Regularly sharpen and clean your lawn mower blade.
• Seed at the right time. The best time to overseed is in August, but it can also be done in May. Fill in bare spots with a 50/50 mix of soil and compost and plant perennial grass seed species that you selected based on your site conditions. Overseeding in August helps fill in bare spots and increases turf density. Seed blends or mixtures such as tall fescue for the cool season and buffalo grass for the warm season work well. Encourage the seed to germinate by keeping it evenly moist with light watering.
• Limit watering and allow your lawn to go dormant. Use water efficiently and water in the early morning. Water no more than 1 inch per week, including rainfall. A rain gauge will help determine how much water is deposited. In July, reduce watering and allow the lawn to go dormant, where it will turn brown for 4 to 6 weeks. During dormancy, limit traffic and mowing and only water a ½-inch every four weeks. If you commit to letting the lawn go dormant, do not try to increase watering. It will cause too much stress on the grass.
• Accept some weeds. Monitor for weeds, but some weeds are acceptable. Clover in the lawn is beneficial for bees and makes nitrogen available in the soil. If needed, remove weeds by hand or spot-treat problematic weedy areas. Use fewer toxic chemicals and consider natural and biological controls. Be sure to read and follow the pesticide label and note the best time of application.
• Monitor for pests such as weeds, diseases, and insects at least twice per month. It is important to catch pests during the initial stages of development for best control. Treat problems and not symptoms. If white grubs were a problem in the past, monitor for those in July and August.
• Only fertilize as needed. A soil test will help determine fertilizer needs. Fertilize medium and high-maintenance lawns in late May and again in early to mid-September. Fertilize minimal maintenance lawns from early to mid-September. Base your fertilizer program on your quality and maintenance preferences.
As you implement natural lawn care methods, monitor your successes and setbacks. Take note of what needs improvement and refer to the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant lawn care calendar at LawntoLakeMidwest.Org/calendar. For more research-based information on lawn care, connect with your local Illinois Extension county office at go.Illinois.Edu/ExtensionOffice.
The 12 Best Lawn Care Products Of 2023 For A Healthy And Beautiful Yard
Photo: Rachio
Keeping your lawn or garden looking its best not only adds to the curb appeal of your home but also makes it more enjoyable when you spend time in your yard alone or entertaining others. While taking care of the yard may seem like a daunting task, the right products make all the difference.
Along with scouring the internet for the top-rated picks, our experts have tested some of the most popular lawn care equipment and products out there for the best picks, from self-propelled lawn mowers to a smart sprinkler system. Below are the lawn care essentials to add to your cart today to keep your grass green and your plants thriving.
1. Battery-Powered Lawn MowerSelecting the right mower is one of the key steps to achieving a prize winning yard. When our team tested battery-powered mowers head-to-head, we found this self-propelled lawn mower to be perfect for those who need to mow rougher terrain. (While not a dealbreaker, it's worth noting that the self-propelling function takes a lot of power, so its battery life will last up to 50 minutes before needing a recharge.) Its powerful motor automatically adjusts to different lawn variations. Additionally, the Toro Flex Force features LED headlights and a resilient aluminum frame.
Get the Toro Flex Force 60V 21-Inch Super Recycler Mower at The Home Depot for $849.
2. Garden HoseThe Zero-G garden hose is constructed with special woven fabrics that make it durable and kink-free. Our experts selected this hose as the best overall pick in our guide to the best garden hoses due to its flexibility and refusal to kink, even when the weather is cold. The hose is also highly durable with its rugged aluminum attachment fittings and brass inserts.
Get the Zero-G ⅝-inch Black Aluminum Garden Hose on Amazon for $44.98
3. Cordless String TrimmerThe Greenworks Pro Cordless String Trimmer comes with a lot of high praise. Between the 3,000 Amazon reviews and its selection for the most versatile award when we tested the best cordless trimmers, this model is ready to tackle all your yard trimming needs. It offers a quiet and long-lasting brushless motor, variable speed options, a .080-inch dual-line feed head, and a 2Ah battery for up to 45 minutes of continuous use.
Get the Greenworks Pro Cordless String Trimmer on Amazon for $313.93
4. SprinklerWithout watering, your lawn won't remain lush and green, especially during those hot and dry months. The Dramm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler is a fan-favorite and also our best overall pick for lawn sprinklers on the market. With nine watering settings, this sprinkler can cover up to 575 square feet from one position. It also has a sturdy, metal base that users appreciate for its ability to hold up in the outdoor elements.
Get the Dramm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler on Amazon for $30.43
5. Sunday Lawn Care SubscriptionA Sunday Lawn Care subscription will provide you with custom lawn products based on the specific needs of your lawn. Using unique data and cutting-edge science, Sunday will analyze your soil, and climate date for your region, and study satellite mapping information to deliver nontoxic fertilizers like seaweed, molasses, and iron, nutrients books, and clear step-by-step instructions to help you give your lawn the care and attention it needs. Our writer who reviewed the subscription service says it transformed her dry, patchy grass into healthy and lush lawn.
Get a Sunday Lawn Care Subscription from Sunday
6. Backpack Leaf BlowerClear leaves and other debris off your lawn to give it a manicured look with this backpack gas leaf blower from Husqvarna. In our guide to the best backpack leaf blowers, our team gave this blower the best overall award due to how well it breaks up clumped leaves and grass clippings. Its 180 miles per hour rating and 692 cubic feet per minute also make it one of the most powerful residential blower models. Take advantage of the ergonomic harness system, the fuel-efficient engine, and speed control technology.
Get the Husqvarna Gas Backpack Leaf Blower at Amazon for $479
7. Broadcast SpreaderUse the Scotts Turf Builder mini broadcast spreader to seed your lawn, spread fertilizer, salt an icy walkway, and more. The hopper can hold enough lawn products to treat up to 5,000 square feet of space, making it the optimal size for smaller yards. Its hopper and agitator allow for smooth and consistent application of fertilizer, seed, or other lawn care treatments. This spreader, a customer favorite with nearly 23,000 reviews, was also our experts' selection for the best bang for the buck when it comes to the best fertilizer spreaders.
Get the Scotts Turf Builder Mini Broadcast Spreader on Amazon for $47.97
8. EdgerThe WORX electric lawn edger and trencher will allow you to achieve clean lines along sidewalks, driveways, and garden beds for a neat and pristine lawn. One of the best lawn edgers, this model offers a 7.5-inch blade with three different depth adjustments between 1 inch and 1.5 inches to match the needs of your lawn. Grip the D-ring handle and adjust the height of the shaft for customized comfort as you edge the lawn. Users will appreciate the cutting line guide for straight and clean lines.
Get the WORX Electric Lawn Edger and Trencher on Amazon for $94.99
9. WeederStop weeds from taking over your garden and ruining the appearance of your yard with the CobraHead weeder and cultivator tool. With its tempered steel blade and comfortable-to-grip curved head, this tool comes highly recommended by nearly 2,000 Amazon reviewers and our experts in our selection of the best weeding tools.
Get the CobraHead Original Weeder & Cultivator on Amazon for $31.95
10. Sprinkler ControllerEliminate the worries about watering your lawn with the smart sprinkler controller from Rachio. Selected as the upgrade pick in our reviews of the best sprinkler controllers, this model uses local rain and weather data to keep your grass lush and green. It will also use this data to skip unneeded watering sessions due to rain, freezing conditions, high winds, and other factors. With the smartphone app, you can keep track of watering schedules and view an estimate for your water usage.
Get the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller on Amazon for $199
11. Soil Moisture and pH MeterOne of the best things you can do for your lawn is to test the soil to ensure the pH is in the ideal range of 5.0 and 7.0. The Kensizer soil tester measures pH levels, along with moisture and sunlight levels, to help your grass and plants flourish. In the world of soil moisture meters, this "best for pH" pick uses a double probe to provide quick and accurate data without the need for a battery.
Get the Kensizer 3-in-1 Soil Tester on Amazon for $14.99
12. Hose ReelA hose reel, such as the Liberty Garden multi-directional garden hose reel, keeps a hose tidy and easy to use. This particular model—our top pick as one of the best hose reels—rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to effortlessly pull the hose exactly where you need it to go and wind it back once you've finished using it. The weather-resistant frame is made from powder-coated 18-gauge steel.
Get the Liberty Garden Multi-Directional Garden Hose Reel on Amazon for $121.80
The prices listed here are accurate as of an update on June 30, 2023.
Summer Lawn Care
Summer lawn careThe experts share top-tested lawncare products to keep your grass and plants looking great this summer.
Many of us are trying to beat back, cut down, and keep up with grass, plants, and yes, weeds!
Consumer Reports' lawn and garden experts share tips and tools to set you up for a lovely landscape this season and beyond.
The testers at Consumer Reports log many hours tending to acres every year, evaluating lawn and garden products to help you pick the best for your yard, starting with lawn mowers.
It's easy to get distracted by the features that some of the units come with.
But if you've got a quarter-acre or less, a basic unit will cut your lawn and keep it looking great throughout the summer.
Go green and get a mower with top scores for even cutting, mulching, and handling with the electric battery-powered Skil Mower PM4910-10 for $250.
But grass isn't the only thing to take care of in a perfectly landscaped yard.
A good string trimmer can help keep weeds at bay.
CR checks to see how well a string trimmer can handle tall grasses and weeds, and how quickly and neatly each one can trim along a walkway.
Its latest tests reveal that electric battery-powered models are the trimmers to beat.
The great thing about the battery platforms is that most manufacturers are offering a variety of products that work with the same battery.
The Ego String Trimmer ST1502SA for $180 earns top scores across the board.
And you can use that same battery and charger for the Ego Hedge Trimmer HT2411 for $150 and $180 for the kit.
And to keep your lawn and plants hydrated, consider a smart hose timer.
It's a device you can control on your cell phone to make sure you're not over watering.
The Diivoo Smart Sprinkler Irrigation Timer With Hub for $47.98 is an option that works well with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
A chainsaw can also come in handy when cleaning up fallen branches and limbs after storms.
CR also recommends the chainsaw in Ego's electric lawn tool lineup.
And if you need more information about mowers, you can head over to our website and check out a video on choosing the best type for your yard.
Now all you have to do is remember to sit back and enjoy your yard this summer.
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