Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Gardening is a wonderful way to not only beautify your home, but really connect with nature. But have you stopped to consider if your green thumb is green enough?According to garden and landscaping writer Larry Wilkinson, eco-friendly gardening ensures that you're not only building a lovely landscape for your home, but minding the well-being of the Earth at the same time. Here are some of Wilkinson’s eco-friendly gardening best practices:
Go native. Choosing plants that grow naturally in your region and climate is the quickest and easiest way to have a positive impact on the environment. Why? Because native plants don’t require fighting Mother Nature (i.e., extra water and chemicals) to keep them alive. Native plants also help support the local ecosystem by feeding insects, birds and other members of your yard’s habitat.
Switch to a soaker. While it will require an up-front investment, installing a soaker hose drip irrigation system will deliver water directly to the soil and the roots of plants, avoiding the wasted water of sprinklers. Ultimately, you’ll use less water, fostering healthier plants since water droplets on leaves and flowers can lead to disease.
Commit to chemical-free. While pesticides are commonly used in the garden, you can get rid of weeds and pests with common household items. Combine vinegar, salt and dish detergent to repel weeds, advises Wilkinson. Use boiling water to attack weeds between crevices in your driveway or patio. Apple cider vinegar can help your ant problem, and shallow containers of beer placed in your garden will do the trick for slugs.
Groom your grass. A healthy lawn has many benefits, such as preventing water from evaporating, and also deterring flooding and soil erosion. However, the trick is to maintain it properly. Visit your local garden center to make sure you’re planting the right type of grass, then make sure not to cut it too short. Longer blades of grass help conserve water.
Implementing just one or two of these ideas will help ensure that your garden gives back not only to you and your family, but to the generations who come to call your house home in the future.
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