How Much Does a Sprinkler System Cost?

By Kent Gliadon
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27 Jan, 2023

There is a growing movement to contest the stereotype that a lush green and weed free lawn is a sensible lawn practice due to their water-hungry and labor-intensive nature. Initiatives like ‘sustainable landscaping’, ‘xeriscaping”, ‘no mow May’ and ‘bee friendly lawns’ have become popular trends throughout our state and country in recent years. If you’re looking for alternatives to traditional lawns, you’ve come to the right place as we’ll discuss the various benefits of low mow lawns and provide ideas on selecting the best grass for your property. The typical Minnesota lawn has high inputs for water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and maintenance requirements to care for it. While the maintenance is relatively routine and ingrained into our weekly lives as Americans, could it be done better and be more sustainable? Alternatives such as low-mow lawn mixes are more drought-resistant than a traditional turf grass. Meaning you’ll save money on your water bill. They are often more friendly to the environment, require less of those pesky chemicals and help reduce erosion and runoff. Not only that, but they offer a much softer feel on bare feet than a typical mowed grass, perfect for those hot summer days when all you want to do kick back and relax in the sun. No matter which option you choose you’ll know that you are doing your part to improve neighborhood’s ecology. Starting a Low Mow Lawn Low-mow seed mixes have been available about 20 years to the professional market, but can now be found at your local garden center and though local native seed companies. Planting is not as simple as spreading grass seed – there is a bit more to it. When we aim for a dense, healthy planting, it’s valuable to remove all the old grass and weeds and start from bare soil. Use sod-cutting, smothering, or other ways to remove the existing lawn and make way for a new mix (consult a professional if you’re unsure). The best time would be to use July and August to create the “blank slate.” Then sow the new lawn after Sept. 1. Make sure the area has been prepared with good quality soil and lightly compacted. Add fertilizer rake the surface flat so that the seeds can be spread evenly across the surface. Avoid excessive amounts of topsoil (no more than an inch). After sowing, water lightly on warm days to keep the seeds moist but don’t overwater as this will wash them away! After germination (usually within two weeks), fertilize again, then lightly mow with a regular push mower when it reaches 3-4 inches in height (never take off more than one-third of the leaf at once). Finally, water regularly during dry spells; less is more with low-mow lawns – deep watering every two weeks is usually better than sprinkling lightly every day. If there is clover, thyme, or self-heal in the mix you may want to leave it a little longer to let it flower for pollinators to use. Advantages There are several advantages to installing a low mow lawn on part or all of your property including: