Picture a healthy green lawn: perfect for lounging, great
for ball games and cookouts, a real asset to your home. But did
you know that your lawn--and how you take care of it--can also
help the environment? * Healthy grass provides feeding ground
for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and
other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters
contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne
pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is also highly efficient
at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps
clean the air. * Caring for your lawn properly can both enhance
its appearance and contribute to its environmental benefits.
You don't have to be an expert to grow a healthy lawn. Just
keep in mind that the secret is to work with nature. This means
creating conditions for grass to thrive and resist damage from
weeds, disease, and insect pests. It means setting realistic
goals for your lawn, whether you or a professional lawn care
service will be doing the work. And if you choose to use
pesticides, it means using them with care so as to get the most
benefit and reduce any risks. * Caring for your lawn in an
environmentally sensible way can have a bigger impact than you
might think. Your lawn is only a small piece of land, but all
the lawns across the country cover a lot of ground. That means
you and your lawn care activities, along with everyone else's,
can make a difference to the environment. And that's why taking
care of the environment begins in our own backyards.