5 Sustainable and Cost-Effective Lawn Care Tips for 2025

A lush and vibrant green lawn is a staple of residential properties across Ottawa. However, many homeowners give up on having that healthy, thriving lawn. They might see lawn care as too expensive and time intensive, or they might believe that lush lawns can only be achieved by applying herbicides and synthetic fertilizers which are harmful to the environment. This post will give you some great tips for achieving a great lawn while reducing your environmental impact and lowering your costs. Whether you are just starting out in lawn care, have struggled with it in the past, or already have a successful lawn, there should be something of benefit for you in this post.

Tip #1: Mow High

Most push mowers offer numerous mowing height adjustments. This allows the user to pick a height for their lawn that ranges from about 1.5” to 4”. While it might be tempting to go for the golf course or soccer field look and keep your grass cut short, it is advisable to mow as high as possible, around 3” or more. Longer grass offers advantages which will save you time, resources, and money.

• Allow the grass to outcompete other plants in your lawn. Many of the plant species which you find undesirable and troublesome in your lawn require lots of sunlight to thrive when compared to grass species. Keeping them in the shade of the taller grass will keep them from spreading.

• Reduce the amount of water needed by your lawn. The taller grass canopy will keep the soil shaded from the sun. It will take longer to dry out and will need less frequent watering.

• Build a deeper root system. Grass plants thrive when they are given the chance to extend their roots deeper into the soil. Root depth for grass usually corresponds to the height of the plant.

Tip #2: Mow Regularly

Although it can be tempting to push off mowing as long as possible, regular mowing is a beneficial practice which will save time and money in the long term. It is recommended to mow your lawn weekly during periods of growth.

• Stimulate healthy growth. When cut, the plant puts energy towards new growth in the tips and roots. Each time you cut the grass, it will become thicker and stronger.

• Limit other plant growth. Most other plant species found in your lawn don’t tolerate regular cutting as well as grass. By cutting regularly, you allow the grass to outcompete other plants.

• Don’t cut off too much at once. Grass only reacts well to cuts that are made to a small percentage of its height. The 1/3 rule is often used as a benchmark. If more than 1/3 of the grass height is cut off at once, the plant will become stressed.

Tip #3: Tolerate Some “Weeds”

A perfect lawn is often thought of as consisting solely of grass, being void of any other plant life. However, this standard is neither cost-effective, sustainable, or good for your lawn health. Chemical herbicides are expensive, require continuous application, and are linked to health effects for humans and wildlife. Weeding can be time and labour intensive, while often proving to be ineffective. Instead, it’s better to just tolerate a biodiverse lawn. In fact, some of the most common lawn “weeds” are beneficial to the health of your grass.

• White clover fixes nitrogen to the soil which helps nourish grass. It tolerates mowing and drought and generally coexists well with grass. In fact, clover was included in most grass seed mixes before the 1950s!

• Dandelions have a deep root system which relieves soil compaction and brings nutrients up from the ground. They also increase soil microorganisms which help fight fungal disease. Instead of removing dandelions entirely, regular mowing will keep them from spreading while also taking advantage of their benefits.

Tip #4: Water Deeper and Less Frequently

It is true that a great lawn needs water to thrive. About 1” per week is the standard. However, watering deeply and less frequently is a more effective alternative to frequent or daily light watering.

• Deep watering encourages deep root growth. When a lawn is thoroughly soaked through, the grass roots are given the chance to grow deeper into the soil. Deep-rooted grass is more tolerant of disease, drought and other stressors. It also corresponds to more vigorous and lush grass growth.

• In contrast, frequent and light watering will create a shallow-rooted lawn. This will make your lawn susceptible to drought or gaps in regular watering. It also will provide a constantly damp environment which is favorable for the growth of diseases and unwanted plants.

Tip #5: Let Your Lawn Go Dormant

Most lawns in Ottawa consist of cool-season grass species. This means that grass growth is concentrated in two seasonal peaks: first in the late spring and early summer, and then again in the later summer and early fall. During the peak of the summer heat, the grass will often go into dormancy to conserve energy and protect itself. Save yourself time, resources, and stress by allowing the grass to enter its natural summer dormancy.

• Water less frequently during the summer dormancy. As your lawn limits growth to conserve energy, the it requires less water to survive. Cut back on your watering schedule. A deep watering once or twice a month should suffice.

• Don’t be alarmed by yellow or browning grass. The plant isn’t dying, it’s just conserving its energy until the rain and cooler temperatures come again.

• Keep mowing regular during dormancy. Although grass may be dormant, more drought and heat tolerant plants will keep on growing. Regular mowing will keep them from spreading.

Tip #6: Leave Grass Clippings in Your Lawn

Although the City of Ottawa will compost your grass clippings, it is much more effective efficient to leave them in your lawn.

• Leaving grass clippings in your lawn will make it healthier. Grass clippings contain nitrogen which is needed by your soil and grass. Why spend money on additional fertilizer when you have it already for free.

• Save yourself the time of bagging up clippings and the money of buying yard waste bags.

• Save municipal resources required to transport and compost your lawn clippings.

Putting these tips into practice should improve your lawn while saving on money and reducing your environmental impact. This post demonstrates that lawn care can be accessible, affordable, practical, and sustainable.

Resources

Canadian Organic Growers. (2003). “Organic turf and lawn care”. https://cog.ca/blog/organic-turf-lawn-care/

Little. (2011). “Introduction to Organic Lawn and Yards”. Northeast Organic Farming Association Organic Land Care Program (NOFA OLC). https://canr.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2018/04/12024352/Intro_to_Organic_Lawns_and_Yards.pdf

McDonald. (1999). “Ecologically Sound Lawn Care for the Pacific Northwest”. Seattle Public Utlities. https://sustainability.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/EcologicallySoundLawnCare.pdf

Ontario. (2008). “Lawn Maintenance”. https://www.ontario.ca/page/lawn-maintenance

Toronto Regional Conservation Authority. (2018). “How To Grow a Healthy Lawn The Natural Way”. https://trca.ca/news/how-to-grow-a-healthy-lawn/

University of Wisconson-Madison. (n.d.). “Organic Lawn Care”. https://livingcollection.botany.wisc.edu/home-2/botany-garden/organic-lawn-care/