As fall slowly approaches, outdoor maintenance means starting to prepare for the colder months. Getting your lawn in great shape is one way to ensure a healthy emergence in the spring, limiting your ongoing maintenance and saving on your expenses.

This time of year calls for maintenance to be done on your lawn and in your gardens to keep them looking great all year long, and a sustainable approach can lessen air pollutants, reduce energy consumption, and limit chemical use on your property.

Greener products

September is the perfect time for seeding, so consider some eco-friendly options if that is part of your fall outdoor maintenance plan. Today’s greener options include chemical-free lawn seed that requires much less water and only needs mowing monthly. You can also opt for organic fertilizer or chemical-free weed killer, and when fall arrives, mow the fallen leaves to provide a natural mulch for your grass. Choosing environmentally friendly products helps lessen environmental impact while decreasing energy and water consumption and costs.

Eco-friendly equipment

Research shows that gas- and fossil fuel-powered lawn and garden equipment produce up to five per cent of the national air pollution, so many companies are moving towards greener options.  Robotic mowers offer some advantages because they are battery operated, many models also mulch the grass, and they are programmable, allowing less oversight and efficient charging. If you’re not ready to upgrade just yet, there are a few other ways you can get greener with electric or battery-powered mowers and solar generators to take care of your lawn more sustainably.

Sustainable practices

Limiting water use is important for an eco-friendly approach. Consider a rain barrel to catch the rainwater and reuse that water for your flowers and plants. Even with an irrigation system, this can be helpful in especially dry areas or a dry season.

Testing your soil every few years is a great way to determine how much water it needs and whether it needs fertilizing. Test your soil in the late fall to potentially save water, decrease chemical use, and lessen unnecessary runoff.

Dethatching your lawn can also help you take a greener approach to lawncare. Removing that layer of dead organic matter that sits above the soil surface will help deter pests from visiting, so you can better manage your pesticide use.

As the summer winds down, fall lawncare can become more sustainable with the right tools and a proactive approach.

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