An Eco-Friendly Lawn Does More then Save Water
November 19, 2008
Winter is just around the corner, and that’s a reminder that spring landscaping plans aren’t far behind. As you consider what to do differently next year, think about creating a truly healthy lawn – a lawn that’s environmentally friendly as well as healthy for pets, children and wildlife.
You may think your lawn is not important in the big scheme of protecting the environment or being eco-friendly. But consider this: When added up, all of the lawns across the United States would cover the state of Ohio.
Needless to say, that much natural turf grass requires a lot of water, pesticides and fertilizers.
“How we manage our lawns affects the health of our children, pets, wildlife and water quality,” according to Lynn Markham, a land use specialist with the Center for Land Use Education at the University of Wisconsin.
Markham suggests three steps for creating a lawn that’s healthy of the environment and for your pets and family. NewGrass® couldn’t agree more.
Avoid using pesticides. Pesticides are potentially harmful to children, pets and wildlife. Also, they can be tracked into the house or leach into the groundwater. NewGrass® requires no pesticides if it has been properly installed and the base material properly prepared.
If you must fertilize, avoid phosphorus. Phosphorous accelerates algae growth in lakes and rivers, and lawn fertilizer is a major source of phosphorous in our waters. Markham writes that fertilizing the lawn of a typical half-acre lot could add more than 50 pounds of phosphorous to that yard each year. Eco-friendly NewGrass® of course requires no fertilizer at all. In addition, it is lead-safe, and 100% recyclable with polyethylene blades and a bio-based backing.
Get small. Reduce your turf grass footprint. Plant more trees, shrubs, wildflowers and tall grasses, and consider installing synthetic lawn particularly in areas that are hard to maintain or require unusually high amounts of water, pesticides or fertilizer.
No CommentsNewGrass Uses Go Far Beyond Traditional Landscaping
October 23, 2008
One of the great things about NewGrass® artificial lawn is how many uses people seem to find for it.
Sure, NewGrass® is still most popular as the eco-friendly, water-wise alternative to sod grass for residential landscaping. But NewGrass® also has been used in portrait studios, on inner-city rooftop terraces and for trade show displays, to name just a few different kinds of applications that are as smart in use as they are smart-looking.
San Francisco portrait photographer Jeffrey Alexander said he chose NewGrass® to simulate real grass in his studio after experimenting for years with other options, including sod grass and carpeting.
Neiman Marcus and JC Penney designers have also chosen NewGrass® for their studio.
NewGrass® is often chosen over natural turf by studio photographers for two simply reasons. First, they live and work in areas that don’t have a dependable supply of soft, green sod grass in the middle of winter. Second, NewGrass® is a no-muss, no-fuss, easy-to-set up and totally reusable alternative to real grass for studio photography.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. used NewGrass® as the floor covering for a recent trade show display to show off spring designs.
The TV show Dinner & a Movie used NewGrass® synthetic lawn to help transform a barren downtown rooftop into an attractive outdoor living space.
“NewGrass® is a great choice for a rooftop terrace,” said company president Greg Goehner. “Even when it’s wet, after a rain or snowfall, a NewGrass installation won’t impact a building with standard weight-being limitations.”
The rate at which NewGrass drains water are one reason it’s safe for rooftops and terraces. The fact that its Premium Rye and Rye varieties look great even without an infill are another reason, Goehner said.
