Maintaining an eco-friendly lawn is a smart and healthy way to decrease your carbon footprint and help create a sustainable environment. It all comes down to making choices that are conducive to keeping your lawn healthy without the use of toxins and chemicals. Not only will you have a well-maintained lawn and a healthier environment, but the curb appeal will also increase significantly. These DIY lawn care tips are easy to follow and don’t require the services of a professional:

1. Keep the lawn free of pesticides
While pesticides can do wonders to remove nasty bugs, they can also contain chemicals and toxins that are harmful to the environment. Instead of pesticides, try planting native plants; these plants will attract beneficial insects that prey on pests and help your garden flourish. This will keep your lawn lush, healthy, and toxin-free.

2. Leave grass cuttings on the lawn
This natural fertilizer is great for both the lawn and flower beds. After cutting your grass, keep the yard clippings and scatter them across the lawn to make sure it receives the nutrients it requires. The clippings act as mulch, and can also be stored and used as compost. However, not all organic refuse is helpful—too much can smother your lawn. Use gutter guards to prevent the build-up of debris if needed.

3. Fertilize your garden naturally
If you would like to do even more to naturally nourish your yard, you can also start a composting bin with kitchen scraps. Give the contents a stir every few days or so to make sure it is properly mixed. You can then spread the compost on areas of your lawn or garden to keep it healthy and lush, and to ensure your garden yields plenty of fruit and vegetables.

4. Use electric-powered garden tools and lawnmower
Using electric-powered or battery-powered garden tools is environmentally safer, as gas tools emit toxins that can harm the environment.

5. Use insects and worms
Soil thrives best when there is plenty of oxygen. Allowing worms and ants into your yard, rather than eradicating them, can naturally aerate the soil. Additionally, the ants feed on other insects and pollinate plants.

6. Water lawns but do it less frequently
Watering your lawn is always essential; however, there is no point in overwatering it. Doing so just wastes water and does nothing to improve the appearance of your lawn. Put a timer on your watering system to make sure it gets a good drenching just three times a week. Also, keep an eye on the weather. If you are in an area that gets a lot of rain, reduce the number of times a week you use the watering system. You can also harvest rainwater to use in the future.

7. Plant clover
If you want a great-looking and environmentally-friendly lawn, plant clovers instead of grass—clovers are resilient and attract pollinators. Although clovers are actually considered a weed, they can be planted to make your lawn look thick and lush. Clovers will also grow in any type of soil conditions.

8. Build a buffer
If your property is adjacent to a body of water, create a buffer that divides the waterway and lawn. Not only does this allow vegetation to grow naturally, but it also keeps the fertilizer from entering the waterway.