And how you handle that lawn may even affect your flowers!
For many people, a lush lawn is a pleasure. However, lawn care is one of the primary sources of excessive nitrogen entering our waterways (not to mention threatening your hard work in flower beds). Pesticides threaten both children and pets and a growing number of municipalities are enacting restrictions on their use. If that wasn't enough to give you pause, lawn care is also expensive and, dare we admit, challenging to produce a lawn you actually want to dig your toes in as you admire your garden beds.
One option to this conundrum is to identify products that free you from the endless cycle of feeding, seeding, and killing. Johnathan Green's New American Lawn process is one approach. Over time, it moves consumers from natural but more intensive applications to an organic option. Local composting options are widely available in many communities. Or, you could just decide to go a bit more old-school, encouraging those dandelions and clover just like your grandparents did back in the day (and maybe the bunnies will eat those flowers instead of your prize-winning peonies).
Whatever you decide, strive for strong plants that are drought and pest resistant and beef up that soil!
(p.s. We don't earn a dime from recommending this product and their video is helpful to understand the basics of lawn health.)