Having just blogged about planting seeds to” grow bread” in the garden, I thought I should point out that actually reducing the size of your lawn is the path to a greener garden.With increasing pressure on water supplies and the need to reduce carbon emissions,  reducing our lawns – or maybe getting rid of them completely -  is becoming an extremely topical issue.

In the USA, 58 million Americans spend £30 billion a year maintaining over 25 million acres of lawn. Add  a staggering 3 million tons of fertilisers and you can see why the move to reduce the number of lawns is really gathering momentum in America. This includes a national campaign  at http://www.foodnotlawns.com which is attracting interest from the green movement and equal amounts of  opposition from parties with a vested interest in the supply of turf and garden chemicals.

I realise that English gardens are defined by their immaculate lawns so opposition to foodnotlawns might be high in the UK. However, read these few facts to help decide whether your lawn stays or goes:

*  The pollution emitted from a power mower in just one hour is equal to the amount from a car being driven 45 miles. http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/wildones/handbk/wo8.html

*Lawns use ten times as many chemicals per acre as industrial farmland. Some 60% of all fertilisers and pesticides used on lawns run off into our groundwater and evaporate into the air, causing widespread pollution

* Lawns in the United States consume around 270 billion gallons of water a week—enough to water 81 million acres of organic vegetables, all summer long.In fact, lawns use more equipment, labour, fuel, and agricultural toxins than industrial farming, making lawns the largest agricultural sector in the United States.

* It’s not just the residential lawns that are wasted on grass. There are around 700,000 athletic grounds and 14,500 golf courses in the United States, many of which used to be fertile, productive farmland that was lost to developers when the local markets bottomed out.

 EXPLORE THESE IDEAS FOR REDUCING THE SIZE OF YOUR LAWN

Plant a hedge. The least-used parts of your lawn are most likely on the edge of your property. Create privacy and visual interest by planting a “tapestry hedge” with mixed shrubs.
• Build a pond, patio, or island bed in the center of your lawn. Create a visual focal point, a place for entertaining, or a habitat for attracting wildlife.
• Create a tree island. If you have one or more trees in the middle of your yard, chances are the grass that grows underneath isn’t that healthy. Why not plant ground cover, perennials, or woodland plants under your tree instead?[3]
• Devote part of your yard to wildflowers, drought-tolerant grasses, and other native plantings.
• Practice xeriscaping using plants to replace part of your water-hungry lawn

Explore this web-site for more inspirational ideas http://www.lesslawn.com/

The results, he said, are a win-win: the sheep eat free, saving him hundreds of dollars a month in food costs, and his clients get a freshly cut lawn, with none of the carbon emissions of a conventional gas-powered mower.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/garden/sheep-lawn-mowers-and-other-go-getters.html?_r=1

Think we need to introduce this brilliant entrepreneurial green idea to the UK – anyone got any sheep to spare?

An RHS curator has stated on Radio Four’s Today Programme that gardeners do not need to water their lawns during a drought.

Watering your lawn can negatively impact the environment if it is poorly managed, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Colin Crosbie, curator of RHS Garden Wisley, argued on Radio Four’s Today Programme that enthusiasts should try to stop keeping outdoor spaces green during a drought or hose pipe ban.

“There is actually no harm in letting your lawn dry up. The grass will go brown but soon greens up again after a good rain shower,” he declared.

He said lawns are an “important part of the garden” and are not necessarily “as high maintenance as people think”.

In the future there may be less space in cities for lawns and garden watering Mr Crosbie predicted, so homeowners may wish to consider how to effectively use grass to achieve maximum impact.

Read my suggestions for looking after your lawn in an unpredictable climate:

http://www.globalgardening.org/uploads/pdf/lawn_care.pdf

And find more tips from the lawn professionals:

http://www.online-turf.co.uk/topsoil-turf-delivered/lawn-care-advice/lawn-watering/looking-after-your-lawn-in-a-drought/

Most lawns are tough and will survive long periods of drought, returning to their lush green colour as soon as we have some rain.

The UK obsession with having a healthy lawn is something that will have to be reviewed as climate change brings more drought conditions. Dr Geoff Dixon, Senior Research Fellow in Horticulture at the University of Strathclyde, predicts that green lawns could become symbols of “social and moral decadence” because of climate change and population growth, as measures are taken by governments to ration water.

“If you want a pristine English lawn you will have to pay in future,” he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/7852676/Lawns-suffering-from-drought.html

http://www.myclimatechangegarden.com/blog/lawn-care

Here is another idea for easy care lawns being advertised  in central London at the moment:

The grass in my garden seems to be growing again now the days are slowly getting longer. Grass can grow 2-6 inches a month but this varies depending on the temperature, humidity, amount of day-light and type of grass.

Climate Change is having an effect on English lawns .It important to think about how to select and care for your grass if you want it looking good throughout the year-

http://www.globalgardening.org/uploads/pdf/lawn_care.pdf

http://www.globalgardening.org/uploads/pdf/lawn_calendar.pdf

If you want to find out more about grass growth, there is an excellent article by Dr. Bridget Ruemmele, Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston,USA http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_watching_grass_gr

Wimbeldon is now the only major tournament in the world played on grass courts.The financial and environmental cost of keeping the courts looking immaculate is extremely high  – around 3,000 gallons of water are used during Wimbledon fortnight to keep them in peak condition. http://aeltc2010.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/infosheets/grasscourts_general.html

Wonder what will happen to Wimbeldon’s over-watered lawns in the future?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/wimbledon_2001/sol_at_wimbledon/1410606.stm

http://www.helium.com/debates/78873-should-old-tennis-tournaments-like-wimbledon-keep-grass-courts-switch-paved

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/5256408/Lawns-will-become-sign-of-moral-decadence-because-of-climate-change.html

Maintaining a healthy lawn doesn’t have to involve using chemicals and artificial fertilisers .There are plenty of ways to maintain your lawn using organic products like those available on one of my favourite gardening sites at EcoCharlie – http://www.ecocharlie.co.uk/seasonal/home-promotional-row-1/fathers-day.html

Eco Dads looking to try the organic route should read this  article in yesterday’s Telegraph which offers ideas on “greening” your lawn:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/7832505/Lawn-care-is-lawn-perfection-a-man-thing.html

“Lose the Lawn” is an American campaign that is gaining momentum as  water restrictions force gardeners, expecially in California, to re-think how they maintain their green spaces.

http://www.losethelawn.com/

http://www.seabreezenurseries.com/FireYourLawnGuys.htm

Every month, I will post a short blog about how to manage your lawn at that time of year.

The idea is to help you think about how much time and money your lawn takes to look after.

36% of gardeners report that their lawns grow all year and 44% say they mow their lawns a month earlier in spring.Is it time to evaluate the role of the lawn in the traditional english garden?

Here are two ideas to think about in MAY:

MOWING

By now you wil probably be mowing the lawn once a week as it starts to grow very quickly as the days get longer and warmer.Remember to leave a height of at least  one inch or more and vary the direction of the cut to help the lawn grow evenly.

WATERING

Your lawn should not need watering at this time of year as the ground should be relatively damp underneath. Remember that over watering can be more harmful than drought – try to only use rain-water from your water butt to be more environmentally friendly.

If the lawn is dry don’t start to water it too much as this can be more harmful than drought. Try to use rainwater collected in a water butt as it contains important minerals and nutrients. Always water in the evening as it allows the water to penetrate the surface before it evaporates in the sun.