You want a carpet of emerald green grass, but aren't looking forward to spraying harsh chemicals in front of your home. Is there a way to keep your grass looking top-notch without resorting to harsh products? Eco-friendly lawn maintenance allows you to care for your land in a more earth-savvy way. "Organic" and "sustainable" are some of the super-star terms that will come up when you start out on an eco-conscious land care routine. Understanding what these terms mean in relation to your lawn maintenance regimen is a must if you're going the environmental route.

Organic Lawn Care

Organic lawn maintenance is often also called natural. It's often a blanket or general statement that refers to a more earth-friendly way of treating your yard. Natural, organic, methods go beyond what you put on your lawn, and into the entire maintenance process from the start. A natural regimen begins with the type of grass that you select. From the start, you need to pick a grass that matches your climate and your yard's location. The type of grass that you choose can also help to prevent pest problems. Some adapted grasses are disease resistant, eliminating the need for chemical maintenance.

When it comes to fertilizing your yard, organic products are chemical-free. Any organic product should contain some type of carbon source, notes the University of Florida Extension. There are a variety of sources to choose from. The specific type of fertilizer that you use depends on your lawn, climate and soil make-up. Examples include bat guano, worm castings and blood meal. There are also synthetic, or man-made, versions that don't contain chemicals.

Sustainable Yard Practices

Sustainable practices include the type of grass that you select and how you choose to maintain it. A sustainable lawn has the least negative impact on the environment possible. This may mean selecting a grass that matches your climate and is pest-resistant, using natural fertilizers or being water-conscious when keeping your grass hydrated. To maintain a sustainable yard you'll need to use organic methods.

Compost, or decaying organic matter, is also another way to fertilize your lawn in an eco-conscious way. You can create your own compost out of discarded plant material such as your vegetable castaways. This method brings a sustainable factor into your yard, as you are reusing your own household waste, and turning it into a way to maintain your grass.

Lawn maintenance doesn't have to equal spraying toxic pesticides or applying chemical fertilizers. Eco-conscious grass care can keep your yard looking full and fresh, while still caring for the Earth. Talk to your local experts, such as Commonwealth Irrigation, for more information.