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How “green” is your lawn? Your lawn can be a cool, soothing oasis that enhances the environment and fosters human health or it can be a menace to both. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we nurture 20 million acres of residential lawns, annually using 580 million gallons of gasoline, 67 million pounds of synthetic pesticides and 30 to 60 percent of urban fresh water, while suffering some 60,000 to 70,000 severe accidents related to power mowers. But don’t replace your lawn with a hardscape (patio or deck) or xeroscape (sparsely planted drought tolerant plants surrounded by large areas of wood chips or gravel) just yet! A healthy lawn cools and cleans the air, filters pollutants, produces oxygen, harbors beneficial wildlife and prevents soil erosion. Like no other kind of landscaping, it creates a wholesome outdoor living space where we can get some much-needed exercise. A reel mower is an essential tool for keeping your lawn on the “green” side of the equation. Reel mowers do not use fossil fuels, are quiet, non-polluting, provide a superior cut, and supply low-impact exercise. Reel mowers bring out the best in every grass type because they make a clean, even cut across the grass blade unlike the tearing action of rotary mowers. Reel mowers work best for those who mow often. Frequent mowing stimulates growth and promotes lawn health. Mowing height is important. A higher cut means a longer leaf to convert the sun’s rays into food for the plant, encourage deep roots, to shade and cool the soil, which in turn slows evaporation and conserves water. Weed seeds face a greater challenge sprouting and growing when crowded out by the grass that towers above them, blocking the sun’s rays. Some weed seeds cannot sprout at all without direct sunlight, and unlike grass, most weeds do not adapt well to frequent mowing. A higher cut means the mower will trim a smaller proportion of the plant - it is best to avoid cutting more than one third of the plant at a time. Deeper grass is greener, healthier, and more resistant to disease and drought, produces more oxygen, attracts beneficial wildlife, and works harder to cool, moisten and clean the air. Reel mowers are perfect for "grasscycling", which means leaving grass clippings on the lawn. The clippings fly off the reel blades in a fine spray instead of forming big ugly clumps. Grasscycling slows evaporation, saves water and feeds beneficial insects such as earthworms. It reduces the need to fertilize by one application a year because it returns essential nutrients to the soil. Over-fertilizing is common and detrimental to the lawn and to the environment - an expensive mistake. The EPA says we spend more than five billion dollars a year on fossil fuel-derived fertilizers alone. Lawn fertilizers contribute to water pollution and are blamed for fatal bird poisonings called “lawn care syndrome”. Using a people-powered push mower is easier than ever before because today’s reel mowers are geared so that the blades spin several times for each turn of the wheels, which are generally larger and wider than they were on older models, making the mower easier to push. The new bearings are of a higher quality and the blades are made of tempered steel, which keeps a sharp edge longer. According to the Lawn Institute, there is a strong link between shrinking lawns and expanding waistlines. A 180 lb. person pushing a power mower burns 389 calories while the same person pushing a manual reel mower uses 475 calories. It takes a little more effort to push a reel mower, not enough to make it an insurmountable task, just enough to make it a more beneficial exercise. Reel mowers are also much safer than power mowers. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, power mowers send more than 60,000 people to emergency rooms each year. Injuries range from sprains that occur while attempting to start the mower to amputations. Injuries related to use of manual reel mowers are so inconsequential that they are not even documented. Manual reel mowers are economical to buy, use and maintain. They do not require fuel, spark plugs or tune-ups, nor do they produce hazardous waste. Manual reel mowers make better use of the materials and energy it takes to produce them because they last much longer than a power mower. Most come with optional sharpening kits that allow even the unskilled to maintain a sharp blade quickly, easily and economically, and keeping those blades sharp will make life easier for you and your lawn. If you prefer to compost the clippings rather than grasscycling, grass catchers are available. If you would like more information about reel mowers, or would like help choosing the best one for you and your lawn, contact Marjorie King at 888 384-1033 or email marjorieking@reelmowersetc.com.
copyright 2009 Marjorie King all rights reserved.
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