I have read a lot about sustainable living and having a low environmental impact. One thing that comes up from time to time is how bad lawns are for the environment. I would agree that an over fertilized and watered lawn is not a good thing- but a properly maintained lawn can be an asset to the environment.

I use my lawn daily- playing with my dog, chipping to my putting green, and as a place for friends to gather playing and socializing. I keep the lawn mowed at 3" and take care of it so it remains healthy. I aerate it annually, test the soil and keep it properly balanced,and avoid adding chemicals to is unless necessary. I can also claim the there is no runoff from my yard into storm sewers that will eventually go into the watershed.

As I mentioned earlier- I have a putting green. I probably lost a few readers by stating that I have a putting green. I have a green green that is watered with harvested rain water and kept in such a way to have little if any negative impact on the environment.

I do mow it at 1/4 inch high with a power mower (I hope to find a used manual mower soon), it does take a little energy to get water from the cisterns to the sprinklers, and I do need to fertilize it a few times a year. I must reiterate that there is no runoff from my property to the watershed- it all gets absorbed into the porous soil I have.

I feel that having an useful yard saves a lot of energy in the long run. I use it on a regular basis and it brings enjoyment to many people. I do not drive off to a dog park to get my dog exercise because he can have his friends stop by and play unrestricted. An I get out more often to play or work on the garden more frequently than I would otherwise.

My lawn is not perfect and having an overgrown lot may be the best option. It is not bad to have a lawn if it is maintained in the correct manner- especially if you use it often.