How to get a great lawn without harming the planet

Traditional lawn maintenance practices, which often involve petrol-powered equipment and chemical fertilisers, can have a detrimental impact on the environment. 

We’ve rounded up some greener alternatives that will not only preserve the health of your lawn but also contribute positively to your local ecosystem.

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1. Switching to electric mowers

Electric mowers are an important aspect of eco-friendly lawn care, significantly reducing air pollution compared to petrol-powered choices. Traditional petrol mowers don’t contain catalytic converters, so they emit a considerable amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that affect air quality. Electric mowers produce no direct emissions. 

They’re also quieter and generally require less maintenance. As battery technology advances, cordless mowers are becoming more efficient, offering longer battery life and comparable power to traditional petrol mowers.

Check out our guide to the best lawn mowers to help find your next model.

2. Picking an Eco Buy

We launched our Eco Buy recommendation for lawn mowers last year, which recognises models that have not only done well in our standard grass-cutting tests but that also have a lower impact on the environment over their lifetimes than other lawn mowers. 

Only cordless and electric mowers can become Eco Buys, because of the polluting emissions inherent to petrol-powered machines. 

We look at how energy efficient they are and how long their battery life is (for cordless models only). We also ensure we’re satisfied that their noise levels aren’t so high that they’d cause major disturbance to local wildlife and disrupt ecosystems. Maintenance and reliability play a part, too. Our Eco Buy mowers are well constructed and easy to maintain and don’t include models from manufacturers that have products which scored badly for longevity in our annual lawn mower owners survey. 

Use the Eco Buy filter on our reviews page to find the models that have earned this recommendation. 

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3. Encouraging wildflower areas

Dedicating parts of your lawn to wildflowers rather than maintaining a traditional grassy expanse can have environmental benefits and create a mini-biodiversity hotspot. Wildflowers provide habitats for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds. These areas support biodiversity and help sustain various species. Moreover, wildflowers are generally low maintenance as they are adapted to local soil and climate conditions, requiring less water and no fertiliser.

Alternatively, you could grow insect-friendly flowers in pots if you don't have much space. 

Discover the best wildflower seed and plant suppliers

4. Letting grass grow longer

Allowing your grass to grow slightly longer is a simple yet effective way to promote a healthier lawn and environment. Longer grass blades shade the soil, reducing water evaporation and thus the need for frequent watering. This can also encourage deeper root growth, which enhances soil stability and helps prevent erosion. Additionally, longer grass can outcompete weeds more effectively, reducing the need for chemical herbicides.

When you do cut the grass, remember the one-third rule: never cut more than one-third of the grass-blade length at a time. Cutting more than this can stress the grass, making it less robust and more susceptible to diseases.

5. Composting lawn clippings

Composting grass clippings and other organic waste, such as kitchen scraps, is an excellent way to reduce waste and naturally enhance your soil's health. Compost adds essential nutrients back into the soil, improving its structure, aeration and water-retention capabilities. This natural fertiliser minimises the need for chemical alternatives, which can harm the environment and local wildlife. You can start a compost bin easily with a balance of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. 

Check out our guide to making compost to find out how to get started and what to include and not include.