Is mowing your lawn a chore or something you enjoy doing to keep your home looking neat and tidy? Most permaculturists and smart gardeners will tell you that lawns are water-guzzling, high-maintenance, wastelands that should be dug up, dug in and filled with veges, fruit and herbs. I agree. But perhaps a little nature strip at the front of your home does look nice with some lawn, or a little patch somewhere for the kids to play on or for backyard picnics. But if you do have a lawn and you do need to cut it sometimes, there’s a few greener options when it comes to lawnmowers that make a difference to the environment.

Did you know … ?

• Lawns soak up around 90% of the water we put on our garden beds
• Lawns are an environmental liability and ‘drink’ a huge amount of water compared to a garden bed of the same size
• Most water applied to lawns doesn’t penetrate the soil adequately
• Most lawn fertilisers and sprays end up in our local waterways, creeks and rivers
• Mowing your lawn with a petrol mower for 30 minutes produces the same amount of exhaust as 10 cars idling for the same period of time
•  Two-stroke mowers are the highest polluters, followed by four-strokes – both emit VOCs (an ingredient of ground level ozone smog), carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter
• Australia is behind the US and Europe in restricting and banning small petrol-driven machines like lawnmowers – many machines sold in Australia are banned in other countries
• Home lawn mowing contributes 4-10% of Australia’s VOC emissions, very high compared to cars, which have stricter controls
• Fuel and oil spilled, leaked and washed from mowers also contributes to toxic emissions
• Lawnmowers, blowers and backyard vacs are responsible for 20% of suburban noise complaints
• Lawnmowing actually releases vast amounts of seeds, spores, pollens and other irritants into the air, causing allergies in people and pets
• Cut grass also emits VOCs and makes up 4-5% of VOCs in summer

What are the alternatives?

• Electric and battery-powered mowers are less polluting than petrol mowers
• If your energy is from a GreenPower source, then it’s even better
• Reel or push mowers can be hard work, but produce no pollution
• Keep your mower blades sharp and avoid mowing wet grass – wet grass and blunt blades make your mower work harder, which causes more emissions
• Mowing less often is better for your lawn anyway and for the environment
• Longer lawn grass is more drought and dry weather resistant
• Don’t waste valuable organic fertiliser – compost your lawn clippings and apply back on to your lawn a few times each year

There are lots of eco-friendly options for lawn maintenance, such as turn your lawn into edible garden space, use a manual push mower for exercise or, as strange as it sounds, get some guinea pigs as pets and let them mow your lawn. Guinea pigs are quiet, gentle and low-maintenance pets, cuddly for kids and ravenous grass munchers.