First Parish in Concord

Green Sanctuary Group

Lawn & Garden

1. Set Blade High: Mow your grass no shorter than 3 inches. Your grass will be healthier, need less water, and will crowd out the weeds.
2. Clean Mowing: Mow with a hand-powered or electric mower rather than a gasoline-powered one.
3. Mulching: Leave grass clippings on the lawn to fertilize the grass (mulching mower recommended) or compost the clippings.
   
4. Organic Fertilizer: If you fertilize your lawn, use organic fertilizer and fertilize only in the fall.
5. No Poisons: Avoid pesticides and herbicides.
   
6. Reduce Lawn: Reduce the area devoted to lawn. Replace areas of lawn by planting perennials, shrubs, and trees that do not require as much water or attention. Other options include planting a wildflower meadow or a moss garden.
7. Rain Barrel: Collect water in a rain barrel to use for watering. Visit New England Rainbarrel, which has special deals for Concord residents.
8. Compost: Turn grass clippings, vegetable scraps, and leaves into compost, and spread the compost on your lawn and garden.
9. Native Plants: Plant native plants rather than invasive alien species.

• Organization for the Assabet River: Detailed information on the detrimental effect of fertilizers on the health of rivers, and what you can to do to help:  http://www.assabetriver.org/nutrient/lawns.html
• Backyard Wildlife Habitat: The National Wildlife Foundation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat has information on making your yard attractive to wildlife: http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/
  
• Native Plants:
• Middlesex Conservation District, Westford: http://middlesexconservation.org/
• Russells Garden Center, Sudbury: http://www.russellsgardencenter.com
• Rain Barrels: http://www.nerainbarrel.com/
• Organic Landscaping: http://www.gardensare.com