It’s time to go green to keep it green!
Having a beautiful front yard is one of the most important things for homeowners. Not only does it increase the value of your home, but it’s also what people will notice when they first drive up to your home.
Taking care of your yard can be a lot of work and dedication, but it’s all worth it when trees and flowers start to bloom. One of the other challenges of taking great care of your lawn is making sure you’re doing so in an environmentally friendly way.
Below, we’re going to run through some of the ways you can make sure you’re taking care of your yard and the environment. Plus, you don’t have to have the world’s greatest green thumb to do so.
Keep the Grass High
When giving your lawn its haircut, be sure to keep the grass’ trimmer on a higher setting. Cutting the grass too low to the ground will make it difficult for the grass to retain water and give that green, healthy look.
While you’re at it, make sure you’re leaving the grass clippings in the yard. Those clippings hold a lot of moisture and nutrients and it’s a great way to refresh your lawn. Plus, it saves you from having to pick them all up again.
Collect Rainwater
When it rains, it pours and goes all into your rain barrel. Rain barrels themselves are pretty inexpensive and can be placed at the end of a storm drain to collect water.
While it is illegal in some states to collect rainwater, that amount is usually for people who are collecting thousands and thousands of gallons. If you’ve just got one barrel out, you’re probably fine.
If you’ve got a big lawn, collecting rainwater might not be enough. Contact an irrigation company to help you keep your lawn healthy in the most efficient way.
Use that rain water to keep plants healthy and lessen the amount of water you’re using from the hose or other systems. It will lower your utility bill while keeping you green.
Start Composting
Composting is one of the easier activities you can do to start going green. In a sense, it lowers the amount of garbage you use while producing natural (and free) fertilizer.
So what goes into composting? Take any natural food or garden waste and put it in a bin. You can also throw in newspapers, wood shavings, and even cardboard. After months of repeated use, you’ll have plenty of fertilizer for your garden.
There are other sites with longer lists of compostable items, so be sure and check them out there.
Use Native Plants
Different climates are going to be more or less favorable to various plants, so make sure you’re planting appropriately. Those that are not native to certain climates are going to demand more resources, possibly choking out other, nearby plants.
You’ll also be helping out the local ecosystem by making it better for local birds and insects, attracting them or giving them a natural habitat. Plus, they’re going to be much, much easier to maintain and easier on your wallet overall.
Go Natural
When you’re looking for herbicides and pesticides, it’s best to go as natural as you can and use as few chemicals as possible. You might be familiar with the RoundUp scandal, so you know that some of these chemicals can be harmful to the environment and people.
Research natural forms of keeping your garden healthy instead of relying solely on chemicals. Plenty of gardening sites have ways that you can take care of your garden without dumping any harmful chemicals into the ground.
Use Local Businesses
When looking at items for your garden, anything from plants to patio furniture, be sure to browse and shop locally. See what kind of eco-friendly materials they have to make the most out of your garden or yard.
Even though it may not feel like going green, shopping locally is a way to reduce your carbon footprint as you won’t be demanding materials from other parts of the state or country. Not only that, but you’ll also be supporting local and small businesses while keeping your community thriving.
