We're all encouraged to be green these days, addressing issues of pollution, global warming, recycling and efficient use of resources. You may think that this doesn't affect gardening, but it does.

All powered equipment relies on burning non-renewable fuels - in addition this produces carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming). Electrically powered machines (on mains or rechargeable batteries) are no better than petrol-engined (leaded or unleaded) machines in this respect. Supplying the power may result in further pollution too, such as oil tanker spills. So the only truly green mower is the hand machine.

Putting mowings in the dustbin or taking them to the tip adds to the volume of waste to be dealt with by councils. Landfill sites are precious and so are mowings - far too valuable to throw away. You can compost them, use as a mulch or give them to someone else who can make use of them.

Or try leaving them on the lawn's surface. If you mow little and often, or use a mulching mower, the small pieces of grass quickly shrivel and disappear from sight. Once you stop removing these nitrogen-containing leaves, you won't have to feed the lawn as often (if at all) to keep it looking green, so saving more resources. Don't worry about creating thatch. This is a mat formed from the basal leaves of the grass plant that have withered. Thatch builds up if the lawn is not raked regularly and is not created by dropped mowings.