Green lawn mowing sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? Surely, cutting your grass with that gas-guzzling lawn mower can't be good for the environment! But you might be surprised at just how easy it is to keep your lawn beautiful while still being kind to Mother Nature.
Options for Green Lawn Mowing
Think that manual mowers are tough to handle? You might be surprised. Today's manual mowers are sleek innovations with razor-sharp blades and wide wheels.
A small initial investment in these quiet, effective, and eco-friendly machines is not only good for the environment, but good for your health as well.
Electric mowers leave a slightly larger environmental footprint, but the effects of their use is nothing compared to the harmful emissions from gas-powered mowers. Electric lawn mowers are easy to maintain, simply plug into the wall, and use less energy than you might think. They are also very quiet and easy to start with the simple touch of a button.
To minimize the environmental effects of an electric mower, consider using landscaping to fill up much of your lawn space, leaving only a small area of your lawn to mow.
When Using a Gas Mower Makes Sense
If you have a very large lawn and need the convenience of a gas mower to handle it, look for a mower that has reduced emissions. Any mower more than five years old probably doesn't meet Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards, and should be replaced with a newer model. Look for mowers that do double-duty on the same amount of gas, such as mulching and bagging mowers.
Finally, take care not to spill the gasoline when you fill the mower. Raw gasoline in the environment is a hazard that you should be careful to avoid.
Shannon Dauphin is a journalist and occasional novelist with a serious weakness for real estate. Her current home was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her necessary hobbies.
