
Lawn care can be a challenging activity for any homeowner. Whether you're new to the Tulsa area or just setting up your first yard, it's essential to maintain a healthy yard that will last through all four seasons of Oklahoma weather and beyond. That may seem impossible, but it's pretty easy with proper techniques and mindful practices.
Taking the right approach to ensure Zen-focused lawn care is vital for better mental health. According to a Tulsa World article, around 40,600 Tulsans need mental health treatment. However, 88% do not get the necessary care for one or the other reason. Adding Zen garden elements to your lawn can help improve your mental health.
Here are some tips for incorporating mindful lawn care practices into your weekly routine:
The Basics of Mindful Lawn Care
Mindful lawn care is a way of being more aware of the moment you're in. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's easy to get caught up in thoughts about what you will do next or how your lawn looks compared to others, and that's not good for your mind or body.
When doing mindful lawn care, take time out each day to sit on your patio chair and enjoy the view. You might notice birds chirping, butterflies flitting around, and maybe even squirrels scurrying up tree trunks. Appreciate this moment without judgment or preconceived notions about how things should be.
According to the Tulsa Audubon Society, you can find many local species of birds in your lawn or backyard. These species can include Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, etc.
Keeping the lawn clean is also crucial, whether you want a standard lawn or one with Zen-garden elements. You can get help from Tulsa lawn care service providers for this. Loose Lead Lawn Care is one such company offering lawn services in Tulsa.
Based on the testimonials, what customers like about this company is its expertise in offering comprehensive lawn care services. Besides lawn care, they provide weed and tree and shrub services in Tulsa.
Benefits of Mindful Lawn Care for the Environment
Lawn care can be an excellent opportunity to reduce your environmental impact. Key benefits include:
- Reduced water use: Using xeriscaping will reduce the water needed for maintenance. In addition, less frequent mowing means that there will be fewer clippings left behind each time you do now.
This leads to less fertilizer used to grow new grass and fewer chemicals introduced into your soil through fertilizers. The basic ingredients in fertilizers are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. The Nitrogen gets converted into Nitrous Oxide in time, which is 300 times more detrimental to the environment.
- Reduced chemical use: Using methods such as organic fertilizers or compost instead of synthetic chemicals in Tulsa lawns, you'll decrease the number of toxins that get into our waterways. Having fewer pesticides in streams means more biodiversity among insects and other wildlife, which helps support ecosystems overall.
Considering the environment in your lawn care activities is vital worldwide, and the same applies to Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to the American Lung Association, the air quality is mediocre, with particle pollution and ozone reigning in Oklahoma.
Gardens can ease the pressure by absorbing harmful elements. Thus, maintaining lawns is essential to preserve greenery and air quality in the city.
Mindful Lawn Care Techniques for Tulsa Lawns
Keep the following points in mind:
- Mow at the right height. If your lawn needs a trim, consider mowing it at two different heights, one for spring and summer and another for fall and winter. This will allow the grass to grow longer during warmer months to absorb more sunlight while ensuring no unsightly bald spots when temperatures drop.
- Mow frequently. It's best to mow your yard every five days or so. This will keep it looking healthy without overdoing it on your part. If you're worried about how much time this takes out of your day, try setting up an automated timer on your lawn mower so that you don't have to worry about forgetting or getting distracted by something else while doing this important task.
- Cut in the direction of growth and only once. When cutting down Tulsa's greenery with its sharp blades, always keep them pointed toward what will grow back thicker than before. This way, nothing gets left behind but healthy green plants ready for another day under suns blazing hot rays upon them.
- Use sharp blades whenever possible. Dull blades mean more effort wasted trying to get through thick patches where blades may get stuck together instead.
- Mow at the right time of day. Lawns should be mowed when they're dry, so they don't clog up beneath the deck. Avoid doing it in direct sunlight because this can bake down dead grass that otherwise would have been cut off by your blades.
Reduce Chemical Use
Chemicals can be harmful to your lawn and the environment. Chemical fertilizers can harm not only the environment but humans, too. According to a study published in the BMC Spring journal, 385 million cases of acute pesticide-related poisoning occur globally yearly. Here's how you can reduce the use of chemicals in your lawn care practices.
- Reduce Fertilizer Use. If you find that your lawn needs more fertilizer, consider using less. Over-fertilizing can harm your grass and the environment, so it's best to use just enough to keep things growing strong without going overboard.
- Reduce Pesticide Use. If you find yourself spraying more pesticides than usual this summer, try reducing their usage by switching over to natural alternatives like bacillus thuringiensis (BT) or insecticidal soap instead of harsher chemicals. Natural pesticides are safer for people who come in contact with them, including children who might play on the grass.
Incorporate Biodiversity
If you have a large yard, consider planting various native grasses and wildflowers. This will not only help create a more diverse ecosystem in your yard but also increase the biodiversity of your neighborhood.
By providing a habitat for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators, you'll reduce the need for pesticides while improving the health of your landscape. Think about how long it takes to mow your lawn, and then consider how long it would take if all that grass were replaced with flowers or shrubs.
You can maintain an attractive landscape without sacrificing function by creating sections within your property where these plants thrive without regular maintenance. Then plant other areas with grasses that require less attention but still look nice when manicured regularly by professionals.
Conclusion
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the benefits of mindful lawn care and how to implement these practices in Tulsa. Remember that there's no right way to care for your lawn. It's all about finding what works best for you and your family.