WHO NEW Your Lawn Can Be Green - in More Ways Than One?

A few years ago we decided to replace our (almost ancient) gas-powered lawn mower with a cordless electric one. The mower’s battery is removable and it comes with a charger that can be plugged into any outlet. One catch: when fully charged, our battery provides enough power to mow the front yard or the back, but not both. Many owners of electric mowers (and chainsaws and leaf blowers) just buy an extra battery or two, enabling them to switch out the one that needs charging. Lithium-ion batteries are the most efficient. They give you longer running time, and they recharge faster.

Another alternative: There’s always good old-fashioned manual lawn equipment, which requires no source of power except you. You can get a workout and groom your lawn at the same time. Any way you “cut” it, using battery powered mowers or manual mowers is greener than using any carbon-based fuel for your yard maintenance work.

And just a reminder: “No Mow May” is approaching, so consider not cutting your lawn at all until June. Give your lawn a break and let spring clover and other flowers bloom. This will build a habitat for bees, which need to collect pollen from flowers in order to make honey - as well as to pollinate plants that we eat, too.