Go Green in Your Garden

As the weather warms and the trees and plants begin to flourish, it’s a good time to consider incorporating eco-possibilities as a part of your lawn and garden care.

By adopting sustainable practices, you can help make your yard and garden even greener. A few simple changes can result in a big impact on your carbon footprint. You can add some eco-friendly changes to your yard with these green-your-garden tips.

Grow the Right Plants in the Right Spot

When planning your garden, consider design ideas and plant choices that suit the climate and unpredictable weather.

• Drought-tolerant species and native plants will need little attention during hot summers and will support local ecosystems
• Promote biodiversity in your yard by planting a wide variety of plants that also serve as habitats for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
• Create a wildlife habitat by providing food sources, shelter, and nesting sites

Compost & Mulch

Make compost at home instead of purchasing store-bought, plastic-wrapped compost. This is a great way to provide nutrients and moisture to your soil and is an ideal organic fertilizer for your plants.

• Combine your food scraps and yard waste to create compost
• Mulch your garden beds to help retain moisture; mulched sections versus grass sections of the yard require significantly less water
• Use organic mulch like pine needles, wood bark, or wood chips
• Reuse your coffee grounds to fertilize your plants
• Avoid using chemical-based fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, and challenge yourself to replace one of those methods with more natural options

Water Wisely

The time of day you water your lawn and garden can make quite a difference in your water-saving efforts. Early morning is the best time to water. This allows the water enough time to soak deep into your plants’ roots before the sun and heat cause evaporation.

• Water in the morning, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., is the ideal time to do it
• Consider a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose for more efficient watering
• Get a timer (for homes without an in-ground sprinkler system)
• Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering your potted plants and garden

Swap Don’t Shop

Gardening doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby if you think sustainably. You’ll not only reduce environmental impact but also cut costs.

• Before buying new tools, ask if anyone has one you could borrow, especially if it’s for occasional use and not regular use
• For essential tools, garden furniture, or other big purchases, consider shopping at second-hand outlets and websites
• If you would like to, choose natural items that are sustainably made, easily recycled, or biodegradable

Go Electric

There have been many great advances made in recent years with electric technology. Using electric-powered equipment instead of gas-powered tools will greatly reduce the amount of fossil fuels used and lower air pollution and noise pollution, too.

• Swap out gas-powered garden tools and machinery with electric-powered equipment; lawnmowers, chainsaws, and hedge trimmers have electric-powered alternatives
• Get some exercise and do some hand digging, and pull weeds by hand
• Use solar-powered lights in the garden

Reuse and Repurpose

Use your imagination to give items a new use in the garden. Could unique planters be turned into bird baths or mini ponds? Think outside of the box to repurpose and reduce waste.

• Lay large cardboard boxes as a weed barrier
• Cut plastic milk bottles in half or use jars as homemade cloches in the garden
• Use any old plastic trays or toilet paper roll tubes as planters for starting seeds
• Repurpose old containers for planting, and use recycled materials for garden structures

By focusing on a few green steps for your garden, you can minimize waste and make it even more sustainable for years to come. Now that you have a green game plan for your garden, take it one step further with a renewable energy plan for your home.

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