Eco-friendly gardening tips: 3-5
Earth-saver #3: Compost
Composting helps retain moisture in your soil and cuts down on weed growth. It also provides a blanket of insulation for your garden, keeping root zones cooler in summer and protecting soil during winter.
"Organic kitchen and yard waste account for 40 per cent of a household's waste," says Van Ihinger. "And organics going to the landfill create methane gas, one of the most potent of the greenhouse gases. By composting you're reducing waste, not producing methane gas, and you're not transporting 40 per cent of your garbage to the landfill."Compost is also a free fertilizer that makes your soil richer, minimizes soil erosion and improves your outlook for a great summer garden. Click here to find out how to build your own composter.
Earth-saver #4: Design your garden for water conservation
Group like plants together, recommends Van Ihinger. "Put your high-water-need plants together versus your low-water-need plants," she recommends. "And stagger your garden so that your low-water-need plants are near the top of a small mound, with your high-water-need plants lower."
Earth-saver #5: Use a manual mower
Get some exercise and be environmentally friendly at the same time by using a manual or push mower instead of a gas or electric model. Modern manual mowers are easier to push than older models, but it will take you a little longer to mow the lawn.
The manual mower works best when you have a well-maintained lawn: one that is mowed weekly. If the grass is too high, the manual mower won't cut as effectively.
With a little effort and some information you can have a yard that's green in every sense of the word.
Page 2 of 2
Composting helps retain moisture in your soil and cuts down on weed growth. It also provides a blanket of insulation for your garden, keeping root zones cooler in summer and protecting soil during winter.
"Organic kitchen and yard waste account for 40 per cent of a household's waste," says Van Ihinger. "And organics going to the landfill create methane gas, one of the most potent of the greenhouse gases. By composting you're reducing waste, not producing methane gas, and you're not transporting 40 per cent of your garbage to the landfill."Compost is also a free fertilizer that makes your soil richer, minimizes soil erosion and improves your outlook for a great summer garden. Click here to find out how to build your own composter.
Earth-saver #4: Design your garden for water conservation
Group like plants together, recommends Van Ihinger. "Put your high-water-need plants together versus your low-water-need plants," she recommends. "And stagger your garden so that your low-water-need plants are near the top of a small mound, with your high-water-need plants lower."
Earth-saver #5: Use a manual mower
Get some exercise and be environmentally friendly at the same time by using a manual or push mower instead of a gas or electric model. Modern manual mowers are easier to push than older models, but it will take you a little longer to mow the lawn.
The manual mower works best when you have a well-maintained lawn: one that is mowed weekly. If the grass is too high, the manual mower won't cut as effectively.
With a little effort and some information you can have a yard that's green in every sense of the word.
Page 2 of 2
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