Eco-Friendly Gardening
For several years we have all heard the buzz-words going green or eco-friendly used correctly and some have used the words as a sales tool.
Eco-friendly really means earth-friendly or not doing harm to earth's environment.
In gardening, the term refers to actions or practices and products that help conserve resources like water and energy.
It also means that it does not negatively affect or pollute our air, water or land.
We have all become aware of practices we need to use more and things we need to stop doing.
For instance, we know that empty rooms don't need the lights on.
We have programmable thermostats to conserve on heating and air- conditioning.
Recycle bins are used, stores don't use plastic bags and telecommuting is encouraged for employees at more companies.
We sometimes forget to be eco-friendly in our yards.
We use chemical fertilizers to make the grass green but forget that these chemicals do not stay just on our yards.
They run off into our streams and rivers too.
The average lawn can use over 20,000 gallons of water each summer.
Take a look at some of our eco-friendly tips for your yard and garden.
They will save you some dollars and help the environment.
Your Yard One hour of watering your yard could use up to 250 gallons.
The best time to water your yard is between 5 a.
m.
and 10 a.
m.
so plants will be moist before the hottest part of the day.
Watering during the warm afternoon will lose some water to evaporation and wind.
Watering in the evening may cause your grass to remain wet all night.
This gives the perfect environment for mildew or fungus to develop and kill your grass.
Be sure to water deeply.
Each time you should have water down at least an inch into the soil.
Your grass will have a long root system to gain more nutrients from the soil and be a strong, more drought-resistant plant.
Use a timer for your watering.
Time will get away from us so that we under or over water.
A timer, run on batteries, will start and stop the watering process for you.
When you use a watering timer, be sure to check the weather forecast.
You can re-set it for the next day if rain clouds are headed your way.
Mulch your yard when you mow to give your grass a layer of natural fertilizer as the clipping decay.
These clipping will also help contain moisture and provide a natural barrier for weeds that might blow into your yard.
Plants Native plants will make your yard a pleasure to maintain.
These plants are already acclimated to your area's environment allowing these plants to not need additional watering or fertilizer most of the time.
Collecting rain water in large barrels will eliminate many faucet watering.
While bird feeders and nesting boxes will bring the excitement of seeing the birds, they will also help rid your plants of pests.
Birds will feed off the snails and slugs so you won't need to use a pesticide.
It takes only a small area at the back of your yard to place an organic compost collector.
Things you used to throw out can now be put in your compost.
Another compose ingredient will be the dead leaves, branches, or clippings from your yard.
Just turn the compost pile every few weeks to allow it to deteriorate evenly.
Mix it with the soil when you are planting anything in your flowerbed or containers.
Other Considerations Use solar lighting on your patio.
When you need a brighter light, use LED bulbs.
Some of these bulbs only use about 2 watts of electricity.
Buy a box of ladybugs.
They will eat any aphids and help preserve your plants without using pesticides.
These ladybugs will find shelter in plants that bloom or have numerous shoots to lay their eggs for your ladybug crop for next year.
Marigolds are known as an enemy of flying insects and slugs.
Plant a few in your flowerbeds and some of the containers on your patio.
These pests will go find another home away from your yard.
Crush those egg shells and just sprinkle them around your flowerbeds.
The sharp edges will provide a rough road for slugs.
Your plants won't have the leaf edges eaten but will be beautiful.
Plant seeds in any yogurt or other plastic container instead of putting it into the recycle bin.
Also use the center cardboard of toilet paper to begin your seedlings.
Plant these rolls on their end in enough dirt to stand upright in a large flat pan.
When the weather is warm enough, plant the rolls in the dirt in your yard.
The cardboard will deteriorate as your plant gets more roots.
Eco-friendly really means earth-friendly or not doing harm to earth's environment.
In gardening, the term refers to actions or practices and products that help conserve resources like water and energy.
It also means that it does not negatively affect or pollute our air, water or land.
We have all become aware of practices we need to use more and things we need to stop doing.
For instance, we know that empty rooms don't need the lights on.
We have programmable thermostats to conserve on heating and air- conditioning.
Recycle bins are used, stores don't use plastic bags and telecommuting is encouraged for employees at more companies.
We sometimes forget to be eco-friendly in our yards.
We use chemical fertilizers to make the grass green but forget that these chemicals do not stay just on our yards.
They run off into our streams and rivers too.
The average lawn can use over 20,000 gallons of water each summer.
Take a look at some of our eco-friendly tips for your yard and garden.
They will save you some dollars and help the environment.
Your Yard One hour of watering your yard could use up to 250 gallons.
The best time to water your yard is between 5 a.
m.
and 10 a.
m.
so plants will be moist before the hottest part of the day.
Watering during the warm afternoon will lose some water to evaporation and wind.
Watering in the evening may cause your grass to remain wet all night.
This gives the perfect environment for mildew or fungus to develop and kill your grass.
Be sure to water deeply.
Each time you should have water down at least an inch into the soil.
Your grass will have a long root system to gain more nutrients from the soil and be a strong, more drought-resistant plant.
Use a timer for your watering.
Time will get away from us so that we under or over water.
A timer, run on batteries, will start and stop the watering process for you.
When you use a watering timer, be sure to check the weather forecast.
You can re-set it for the next day if rain clouds are headed your way.
Mulch your yard when you mow to give your grass a layer of natural fertilizer as the clipping decay.
These clipping will also help contain moisture and provide a natural barrier for weeds that might blow into your yard.
Plants Native plants will make your yard a pleasure to maintain.
These plants are already acclimated to your area's environment allowing these plants to not need additional watering or fertilizer most of the time.
Collecting rain water in large barrels will eliminate many faucet watering.
While bird feeders and nesting boxes will bring the excitement of seeing the birds, they will also help rid your plants of pests.
Birds will feed off the snails and slugs so you won't need to use a pesticide.
It takes only a small area at the back of your yard to place an organic compost collector.
Things you used to throw out can now be put in your compost.
Another compose ingredient will be the dead leaves, branches, or clippings from your yard.
Just turn the compost pile every few weeks to allow it to deteriorate evenly.
Mix it with the soil when you are planting anything in your flowerbed or containers.
Other Considerations Use solar lighting on your patio.
When you need a brighter light, use LED bulbs.
Some of these bulbs only use about 2 watts of electricity.
Buy a box of ladybugs.
They will eat any aphids and help preserve your plants without using pesticides.
These ladybugs will find shelter in plants that bloom or have numerous shoots to lay their eggs for your ladybug crop for next year.
Marigolds are known as an enemy of flying insects and slugs.
Plant a few in your flowerbeds and some of the containers on your patio.
These pests will go find another home away from your yard.
Crush those egg shells and just sprinkle them around your flowerbeds.
The sharp edges will provide a rough road for slugs.
Your plants won't have the leaf edges eaten but will be beautiful.
Plant seeds in any yogurt or other plastic container instead of putting it into the recycle bin.
Also use the center cardboard of toilet paper to begin your seedlings.
Plant these rolls on their end in enough dirt to stand upright in a large flat pan.
When the weather is warm enough, plant the rolls in the dirt in your yard.
The cardboard will deteriorate as your plant gets more roots.
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